Using digital tools to analyze vocal communication in autism
Digitizing Human Vocal Interaction to Understand and Diagnose Autism
This study is working on a new digital tool that helps understand how young people with autism communicate by looking closely at their speech and interactions, making it easier to see their social skills in action.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10844451 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to create a digital tool that measures social communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by analyzing vocal interactions. It employs advanced techniques in computational linguistics, including automatic speech recognition and natural language processing, to gather detailed information about speech patterns, turn-taking, and word usage. By digitizing these vocal behaviors, the study seeks to provide more accurate and timely assessments of social communication skills in adolescents with ASD. This innovative approach aims to complement existing methods by integrating both verbal and nonverbal communication data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who can participate in social communication assessments.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have autism spectrum disorder or those who are unable to engage in vocal communication may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise and objective methods for diagnosing and understanding autism, ultimately improving treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using digital tools and machine learning to analyze nonverbal communication in autism, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parish-Morris, Julia — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Parish-Morris, Julia
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.