Innovative Telehealth Solutions for Vestibular Disorders Developed at FAU

Dr. Ali Danesh, a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and an affiliated faculty of the Center for SMART Health at Florida Atlantic University, has a distinguished academic and clinical career focusing on auditory and vestibular systems. Since joining FAU in 1998, Dr. Danesh has risen to prominence through his dedication to advancing both educational and clinical practices in audiology and neurophysiology with research focused on balance disorders, tinnitus, and other related conditions.  

Dr. Danesh, alongside a team of interdisciplinary researchers, has been advancing the frontiers of medical technology with a project funded by the Center for SMART Health seed grant. This project, titled "Telehealth Use of a Nystagmus Analyzer Algorithm," is poised to revolutionize how vestibular disorders are diagnosed and treated remotely. The research team for the grant includes Co-PI Dr. Sue Graves from the Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion at FAU, who oversees participant coordination and data management; Dr. Sajeel Chowdhary, formerly a Director at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute and now based in Tampa, who provides neurology expertise; and Dr. Abhijit Pandya from the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, responsible for developing and supervising the project’s computer applications. As a member of Dr. Danesh’s Hearing, Tinnitus and Balance Research Laboratory (HTBRL) member, Dr. Harshal Sanghvi, Visiting Instructor and Director of Healthcare Analytics at the College of Business, developed the framework for AI-Driven Decision Support System for detecting Nystagmus.   

The grant focuses on developing an innovative algorithm to remotely analyze eye movements that reflect the vestibular system’s response, detectable through nystagmus—involuntary eye movement. This method was particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for remote healthcare solutions, especially for patients with limited access to specialty medical services. Dr. Danesh and his team utilized smartphones to record eye movements in response to specific stimuli, demonstrating that their algorithm could accurately mimic results typically obtained from more complex clinic-based equipment like Videonystagmography (VNG).   

These findings could lead to more accessible diagnostics and broader surveillance of vestibular health, potentially transforming how such conditions are managed remotely. The community has noticed the team’s efforts, with multiple presentations and papers already concluded or under review. Highlights include an invited presentation at the Middle East Otolaryngology Conference in Dubai, and various scholarly articles, one of which is under review, proposing an AI-driven telehealth framework for detecting nystagmus. Looking ahead, Dr. Danesh’s project continues to evolve. The team is expanding its algorithm to analyze different nystagmus directions, such as vertical and torsional, with the goal of developing comprehensive remote diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for vestibular disorders. This ongoing work underscores the project’s potential to deliver significant advancements in remote healthcare, aligning closely with the Center for SMART Health's mission to integrate AI into medical diagnostics and treatment solutions. Dr. Danesh’s project exemplifies the innovative spirit of FAU’s research community, leveraging cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve healthcare outcomes. As the project progresses, it promises to enhance the diagnosis and management of vestibular disorders and pave the way for future innovations in telehealth and medical technology.