Seminars

Spring 2023

Automated Detection of Disease Using Expressive Human Signals

Dr. Mary Pietrowicz

Presented on: May 16, 2023

Abstract:
Many disorders, particularly disorders in psychiatry, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, cardiology, and speech and language are underdiagnosed or are incorrectly diagnosed, causing both financial burden and unnecessary suffering. To cite a specific example, prior to the pandemic, about 18% and 7% of the population suffered from Anxiety Disorders (AD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) respectively; yet only 37% of people with AD and 50% of people with MDD received treatment. Post-pandemic, over 30% of the population is affected by AD and MDD. Left untreated, AD/MDD can result in the inability to hold a job, financial problems, broken relationships, and even suicide. Barriers to diagnosis for these and other disorders include low self-perception of need, attitudinal barriers such as stigma and lack of trust in the health care system, structural barriers such as cost and low availability or accessibility of doctors, and subtlety of early symptoms that are often confused with other disorders. This work addresses the problem by developing accessible, inexpensive, online, automated disease screening techniques based on highly-available human signals, particularly speech and language. This talk will introduce this exploratory field, present a few recent projects, discuss challenges and barriers to this research, and discuss next steps and longer-term goals

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