?? smallTalk out here doing BIG things! We are SO excited to get to be a part of their journey! ?? #innovation #ohio #springclass #columbus
smallTalk, a Nationwide Children's Hospital startup, has developed a groundbreaking platform to enrich the neurological development of preterm infants who don’t have regular, consistent access to their parent’s voice. The smallTalk? NICU Egg is a Bluetooth-enabled speaker that transmits the parent’s recorded voice with the appropriate sound characteristics to provide for safe exposure to their parent’s voice for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Dean Koch, co-founder and CEO of smallTalk? states, “For parents, separation from their newborn in the NICU creates immense stress and uncertainty, often leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. For infants, a NICU stay can take a toll on their developing brains, with longer hospitalizations tied to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. At smallTalk?, we’re dedicated to utilizing our patented voice technology to help address these challenges.” A version of the NICU Egg is currently in a pivotal clinical study. The ACTIVE Egg is designed to work in concert with a sensor-equipped pacifier. In a therapy session, a preterm infant utilizes the pacifier to get voice exposure contingent upon their action. This is an active learning concept. When cleared by the FDA this will be the first medical device to improve brain development in hospitalized preterm infants. Learn more about smallTalk? here: https://lnkd.in/g--JRt9h #GuidingIdeasToSolutions #smallTalk #Startups #InnovateWithUs