MSPEECH (multiple sclerosis monitoring through speech interaction in clinic and at home): a Living Lab study protocol for co-created, speech-based digital biomarkers in multiple sclerosis - Report - MDSpire

MSPEECH (multiple sclerosis monitoring through speech interaction in clinic and at home): a Living Lab study protocol for co-created, speech-based digital biomarkers in multiple sclerosis

  • By

  • Tina Lemkau

  • Hernan Inojosa

  • Anja Dillenseger

  • Johannes Tröger

  • Janna Hermann

  • Nicklas Linz

  • Stephen Gilbert

  • Tjalf Ziemssen

  • July 16, 2026

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Clinical Report: MSPEECH Study Protocol for Speech-Driven Digital Biomarkers

Overview

The MSPEECH study aims to develop and evaluate a speech assessment app for monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. This protocol emphasizes co-creation with stakeholders to ensure usability, engagement, and clinical integration of digital biomarkers.

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with diverse symptoms that can fluctuate, making traditional clinic assessments insufficient for capturing real-time disease activity. Digital health tools, particularly those leveraging speech analysis, offer a method for continuous monitoring of MS symptoms. The MSPEECH study seeks to explore the feasibility and applicability of these digital measures.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial results are provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • The MSPEECH study is a single-center, prospective, non-interventional study at the MS Center Dresden.
  • It involves co-creation of the Mili smartphone/tablet speech assessment app with input from people with MS and clinicians.
  • The study includes three demonstrator cycles and a 12-week home-based evaluation for each version of the app.
  • Primary outcomes focus on usability and acceptability, while secondary outcomes assess feasibility, privacy perceptions, and clinician workflow integration.
  • Speech tasks in the app include fluency, reading, and a dual-task module combining speech with fine-motor tracking.

Clinical Implications

The MSPEECH study highlights the potential for speech-driven digital biomarkers to enhance monitoring of MS symptoms beyond traditional assessments. Continuous engagement and co-design with stakeholders are crucial for developing clinically relevant digital health tools.

Conclusion

The MSPEECH study outlines a protocol for integrating digital biomarkers into routine MS care, focusing on usability and stakeholder involvement in the development process.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2026 -- An interpretable, clinically grounded framework for digital speech biomarker development in neurodegenerative diseases
  2. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2026 -- Listening to MS: AI-assisted speech analysis for diagnosis and fatigue prediction (COMMITMENT)
  3. JAMA Network Open, 2026 -- The Promise of Artificial Intelligence–Powered Speech Biomarkers in Psychiatry
  4. npj Digital Medicine, 2026 -- Developing a Speech-Driven Digital Biomarker for Cognitive Decline: Utilizing Speech as an Indicator for Cognitive Evaluation
  5. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2024 revisions of the McDonald criteria - PubMed
  6. Consensus quality indicators for monitoring multiple sclerosis - PMC
  7. Association Between Acoustic Speech Measures and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - PubMed
  8. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2024 revisions of the McDonald criteria - PubMed
  9. Consensus quality indicators for monitoring multiple sclerosis - PMC
  10. Association Between Acoustic Speech Measures and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - PubMed

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