The role of AI in the diagnosis of speech and language disorders: A systematic mapping study

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Digital Health

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to fulfill the current research gap pertaining to the lack of a comprehensive systematic mapping study (SMS) regarding the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning algorithms in the diagnosis of speech and language disorders (SLDs), and the extent to which such AI algorithms can automate this diagnostic process. Methods: An SMS has been implemented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines; 19,774 research papers were screened resulting in 70 studies meeting purposely designed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The findings revealed multiple research gaps including substantial divide in the application of AI machine learning algorithms for diagnosing SLDs, where 91.43% versus 8.57% of the studies relating to SLDs, respectively. This is further exacerbated by the absence AI machine learning algorithms for diagnosing prevalent language disorders, such as developmental language disorders in children. Furthermore, most AI machine learning algorithms for diagnosing SLDs are focused on binary classification of these disorders, for example, healthy and pathological voices, but not providing detailed diagnostics, such as the impaired aspects and contextual SLDs severity. Finally, AI machine learning algorithms have predominantly focused on partially automating the SLD assessment phase of the diagnostic process (76%) compared to those that have extended the automation to partially include the diagnosis determination phase (24%). Conclusion: The effectiveness of AI machine learning algorithms in automating SLD diagnosis cannot be claimed without larger population datasets, highlighting a research gap for developing AI models to automate the four phases of the SLD diagnostic process and link them to treatment protocols in clinical settings.

ISSN

2055-2076

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Volume

11

Disciplines

Computer Sciences

Keywords

AI algorithms, language disorder, PRISMA, SLD, SLD diagnosis, SLD severity, SLD treatment, speech disorder, systematic mapping study

Scopus ID

105016524267

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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