A fuzzy cognitive map hierarchical model for differential diagnosis of dysarthrias and apraxia of speech.

This paper presents a novel soft computing system for differential diagnosis of the dysarthrias and apraxia of speech based on well accepted dysarthrias' classification system used by speech and language pathologists. The dysarthrias and apraxia are complex disorders of speech because they represent a variety of neurological disturbances that can potentially affect every component of speech production. Since an accurate diagnosis is a very challenging task for the clinician, the under development system based on hierarchical Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) will be used as a "second opinion" or training system. The hierarchical FCM differential diagnosis system is capable of differentiating between the six types of dysarthria as well as apraxia. The system was tested using published case studies and real patients and examples are presented here.