Detecting and tracking Alzheimer's and related dementias using speech from hearing aids
Early detection and monitoring of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias using non-semantic linguistic and acoustic features of speech derived from hearing aids
This project uses speech sounds captured by hearing aids and machine learning to look for early signs of Alzheimer's and related dementias in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Headwaters Innovation, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Inver Grove Heights, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181842 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would contribute by allowing speech-related data from your hearing aid to be analyzed for subtle language and sound changes that can show up before obvious memory problems. Researchers will extract non-semantic linguistic and acoustic features from everyday speech and apply machine learning to spot patterns linked to cognitive decline. The goal is to create a noninvasive, low-cost way to monitor brain health that can work in remote and urban settings. Participation could involve remote data collection and occasional follow-ups with the research team.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who use hearing aids, especially those in the typical age range for Alzheimer's risk or who are concerned about memory or thinking changes.
Not a fit: People who do not use hearing aids or who are not comfortable having their speech data recorded and analyzed are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect dementia earlier and provide an easy way to monitor changes over time using devices many people already wear.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown promising links between speech/acoustic markers and early cognitive decline, but using hearing-aid–captured speech for wide-scale monitoring is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Inver Grove Heights, UNITED STATES
- Headwaters Innovation, INC. — Inver Grove Heights, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bischoff, Brian John — Headwaters Innovation, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bischoff, Brian John
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.