New York City — Brian Jeansonne shares his journey with ALS through informative and heartfelt videos on TikTok, collaborating with his family and caregivers. These videos started when Jeansonne still possessed the ability to speak independently. In one of his videos, he mentions that he has been happily married for almost 18 years and has five children.
However, losing his ability to speak deeply saddens Jeansonne. Fortunately, he has been able to retain his voice through voice preservation, a process made possible by artificial intelligence.
CBS News reported on the technology of voice preservation back in 2016, highlighting how ALS patients at Boston Children’s Hospital recorded their voices to be played back when their speech was impaired. Since then, the technology has significantly advanced, thanks to AI.
Director of the Augmentative Communication Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, John Costello, explains that this technology not only allows patients to record fewer messages but also provides superior voice quality compared to earlier versions.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disorder that affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to the loss of movement and speech. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS each year.
Through a Zoom interview with CBS News, Jeansonne and his wife, Kristy, shared their experiences. Brian, paralyzed and only able to communicate by typing out his responses in real-time, uses eye-tracking technology on his device as a cursor.
Jeansonne expresses his amazement at this technology, as it allows him to sound like himself and gives him a chance to communicate with his family. Kristy also emphasizes how significant this tool is, stating that Brian’s voice is still present, which is truly life-changing for them.
Voice preservation can be a costly procedure, sometimes exceeding $1,000. However, there are nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance for those in need.
On their 20th anniversary, Brian utilized voice preservation technology to reaffirm his wedding vows to Kristy, effectively expressing his everlasting love for her and for life itself.
Author: Jon LaPook
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
