Project description
Providing a voice for minimally verbal autistic children
Communication is a fundamental aspect of our lives, but for about 30 % of children with autism who are minimally verbal, it’s a complex challenge. These children mainly use non-verbal vocalisations to express themselves, which are often misunderstood by those who aren’t closely connected to them. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the COMUTTI project will combine audio signal processing and human–computer interaction to create advanced voice-based interfaces for speech therapy. Machine learning algorithms will be developed to classify these vocalisations, capitalising on the unique insights of caregivers. A voice-based augmented alternative communication prototype will be designed with the active involvement of end users, caregivers and autism experts.
Objective
About 30% of children with autism are minimally verbal (MV), meaning they can communicate mainly through nonverbal vocalizations (i.e. vocalizations that do not have typical verbal content). Vocalizations often have self-consistent phonetic content and vary in tone, pitch, and duration depending on the individual's emotional state or intended communication. While vocalizations contain important affective and communicative information and are comprehensible by close caregivers, they are often poorly understood by those who do not know the communicator well. An improved understanding of nonverbal vocalizations could pave the way for a better understanding of the cognitive, social, and emotional mechanisms associated with MV children with autism. Moreover, it could lead to new therapeutic interventions for these subjects based on advanced voice-based technology for Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC), i.e. for communicating without using words.
This MSCA touches on the research fields of audio signal processing (in particular, children's vocalizations perception) and human-computer interaction (in particular, voice-based interfaces for speech therapy). It aims to advance the understanding of MV autistic children's vocalizations and exploit the obtained knowledge to create advanced voice-based interfaces to enhance their therapeutic interventions. During the outgoing phase at MIT, the work will be about identifying and implementing machine learning algorithms for classifying children's vocalizations. The core strategy is to leverage the unique knowledge provided by caregivers who have long-term acquaintance with MV children with autism and can recognize the meaning of their vocalizations. In the return phase at POLIMI, the project will be about designing, developing, and empirically validating a voice-based AAC prototype for children's speech therapy through a participatory-design process involving end users, their caregivers, and autism experts.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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20133 Milano
Italy
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