UZ Leuven implements new brainwave technology to assess speech processing

UZ Leuven has become the first hospital in the world to implement a new technology that measures how the brain processes speech using brainwaves. Developed by Brainphonics, a spin-off from KU Leuven, the CORGEE test allows clinicians to objectively assess speech comprehension without requiring active cooperation from the patient.

Unlike traditional hearing tests that rely on patients responding to tones or repeating words, this method involves the patient wearing a cap equipped with sensors while watching an animated film. This approach is particularly beneficial for young children, who may be too young or unmotivated to provide reliable verbal responses, as well as patients with communication or developmental challenges.

Professor Nicolas Verhaert, an ENT specialist at UZ Leuven, noted that the technology is crucial for children under the age of three, a vital period for speech and language development. The test helps doctors determine if hearing aids or cochlear implants are correctly adjusted by decoding brain activity to see if speech is truly being understood.