What our voice reveals about our health | Dr. Anthony Law | TEDxAtlanta | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Voice carries valuable information about health and emotions, and voice analysis can be used to detect diseases at an early stage.

Key Insights

• 😯 Voice is a powerful tool that conveys emotions and intentions beyond speech.
• 💱 Voice changes are common in illnesses, with over 50 diseases causing voice changes.
• 👀 Voice scientists analyze vocal cues to diagnose illnesses and look for markers of wellness.
• 🔨 Voice analysis can be a valuable tool for early disease detection.
• 🫁 Main structures involved in voice production are lungs, larynx, throat, and articulatory organs.
• 👻 Different diseases produce distinct vocal cues, allowing for disease-specific diagnosis.
• 🦻 Voice analysis can aid in diagnosing and detecting diseases such as laryngeal cancer and Parkinson's disease.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How can voice analysis be used to detect diseases?

Voice analysis can detect disease-specific vocal cues that indicate the presence of particular illnesses. By studying vocal signals, voice scientists can pair voice changes with specific diseases.

Q: How common are voice changes due to illness?

About one in three people in a given population will experience a voice change due to an illness in their life. This includes common illnesses like the common cold and more serious conditions like cancer and Parkinson's disease.

Q: How accurate is the voice analysis model developed by the researchers?

The deep learning model developed for voice analysis has achieved an accuracy of about 93% in identifying laryngeal growth in the throat. With more voice samples, the model's accuracy can improve further.

Q: What is the goal of deploying the voice analysis app in primary care clinics?

The aim is to reduce the number of advanced stage laryngeal cancers by providing early detection through voice analysis. By identifying high-risk voice changes and referring patients to specialists promptly, more lives can be saved.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Voice is separate from speech and carries emotions and intentions. Vocal cues can convey anger, fear, happiness, and more.

• Voice changes due to illness are common, with over 50 diseases causing voice change.

• Voice scientists analyze vocal cues to diagnose illnesses and look for markers of wellness.