Developing software to collect speech data for cognitive, linguistic, and speech-motor function assessments

Background and Objectives: The advancement of digital technology highlights the importance of utilizing speech data, especially in the medical field where it plays a critical role in analyzing patients’ cognitive, linguistic, and speech-motor functions. This study developed software for collecting speech data from individuals with neurogenic communication disorders and elderly people. Based on a spoken output model, the software includes five tasks: immediate story recall, speech motor tasks, delayed story recall, picture naming, and paragraph reading. It ensures data reliability by consistently collecting speech data under standardized equipment and environmental conditions. Speech data are non-invasive and they can be collected and analyzed in real time. They are also easy to store and reproduce. Data collected through these standardized procedures serve as a crucial resource for tracking and analyzing the health of a speaker's cognitive, linguistic, and speech motor functions. This study is expected to contribute to enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosing these functions in patients with neurogenic communication disorders and elderly people.