The AI Will Analyze your Speech and Identify Issues

By applying modern machine learning to an age-old health diagnostic method, researchers have created an impressive system that can detect various medical conditions simply by examining your tongue. Testing demonstrated its near-perfect accuracy.

“Doctors have been asking to see your tongue for centuries, and there’s a solid reason for this. The color and condition of your tongue can provide significant insights into your overall health. Although this method gained prominence in Western medicine in the 17th century, it has been a staple in traditional Chinese medicine since around 1115.”

Enhancing Tongue Analysis Accuracy

Recognizing the importance of tongue analysis, researchers from Middle Technical University (MTU) in Iraq and the University of South Australia (UniSA) aimed to standardize and enhance the accuracy of this practice.

They trained a machine learning system using 5,260 tongue images captured under various lighting conditions, including images from individuals with known conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and anemia. “The system was tested by placing a camera 20 cm (7.8 in) from a patient’s tongue and asking it to diagnose, achieving 98% accuracy with real-time results.”

Professor Ali Al-Naji on Tongue Diagnostics

Professor Ali Al-Naji, who led the study, explained, “The color, shape, and thickness of the tongue can indicate various health conditions.” For example, a yellow tongue may signal diabetes, a purple tongue with a thick coating could suggest cancer, and an unusually shaped red tongue might indicate an acute stroke.

A white tongue may point to anemia, while a deep red tongue could be a sign of severe COVID-19, and an indigo or violet tongue may suggest vascular or gastrointestinal issues or asthma.

According to Harvard Health, a healthy tongue should be symmetrical, light pink, and may have a slight white coating. In some populations, a slight purplish or brownish tint is also normal. If your tongue deviates from these characteristics, a visit to the doctor may be advisable.

“In the future, this technology could integrate into smartphones, allowing tongue-based diagnostics with a simple photo. It might also serve for COVID-19 screening, as a 2022 study in Ukraine found that 99% of severe cases displayed dark red tongues.”

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: Ultra-thin E Ink Tablet Boosts Mobile Productivity with AI Features