AI company Ubenwa is using technology to create infant monitoring tools in order to detect early signs of neurological conditions.
Ubenwa uses an infant’s cry to determine whether babies are experiencing signs of neurological conditions. The audio collected is categorised into what is considered a normal cry and what is not.
The findings could enable users of the technology to predict whether a child may be suffering form a potential neurological condition or disorder.
Currently, this software only identifies early signs of birth asphyxia – a condition where the body doesn’t get enough oxygen – and it can detect learning disorders based on cry triggers.
Charles Onu, co-founder of Ubenwa, said: “We’re trying to bring the world to a point where infant cries are considered to be a vital sign just as much as we would consider their heart rate to be a vital sign.
“There is a lot of guesswork doctors have to do with babies, but a lot of infant care is really making informed guesses as to when to make this action or where to make that action, and we’re hoping to close some of these gaps.”
What is Neuro-crying?
Crying and agitation for no apparent reason in children with severe neurologic impairment is a common and frustrating problem for care providers and parents.
Usually, babies will cry because they feel unsettled, hungry, wet or uncomfortable, or just because they want attention, while babies with neurological conditions cry for no apparent reason.
Numerous studies have found that a simple analysis of babies’ cries can provide a window into their neurological and medical status.
Newborn crying baby
However, a recent study by Stanford University found that some FDA approved AI medical devices are not evaluated enough and that there are no current best practices set for the development of these technologies.
For this reason, Ubenwa is working on trials and studies to build up the case behind its technology.
Once the trials are completed, the company hopes to apply for Health Canada and FDA approvals.
