Photogrammetric speech motor control assessment

Speech sound disorders (SSDs) are an umbrella term for a range of speech difficulties characterised by a constellation of deficits. Identifying SSD subtypes can be supported by objectively analysing the child’s speech and facial movement patterns (kinematics). However, these movements can only be precisely and specifically measured using specialised instrumentation and software limited to the research setting. More time-efficient and objective diagnostic tools are urgently needed to supplement current clinical practices. Recent research has focused on facial tracking systems that automatically measure speech kinematics of facial landmarks using off-the-shelf cameras. The current state of the art utilizes the BlazeFace AI method to extract facial landmarks from the imagery. Intra-landmark distances are then derived to estimate facial kinematics. For this research project, photogrammetry will be used to validate the 3D facial landmark points extracted by the BlazeFace algorithm. The outcomes of this research will provide SL-Ps with a complementary diagnostic approach utilising objective measures

Faculty Supervisor:

Derek Lichti

Student:

Partner:

Curtin University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Information and Communications Technology

University:

University of Calgary

Program: