A MAN with a debilitating neurological disorder is able to 'speak' again thanks to a computer that translates brain activity into text that is read aloud. Scientists have even been able to mimic Casey Harrell's voice using recordings from before he fell ill. The dad, who has sensors implanted into his brain, said: "Not being able to communicate is so frustrating and demoralising.
"It is like you are trapped - often isolated and lonely. "Something like this technology will help people back into life and society." Heartwarming footage shows the 45-year-old with family as he tries the device for the first time.
READ MORE HEALTH NEWS "He started crying, I started crying, his family started crying," Dr Sergey Stavisky, a neuroscientist who oversaw the trial, said. "Everyone had to stop to compose themselves. It was a really special moment.
" Casey was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a type of motor neurone disease (MND) - in 2020. He started noticing symptoms after the birth of his daughter. Most read in Health Initially, doctors suspected he had a muscle-twitching condition that would go away on its own.
Casey then tested positive for Lyme disease, which can mimic the early symptoms of ALS, before neurologists finally realised his limp and cramps were due to the muscle-wasting illness. His condition continued to deteriorate, and he now uses a specialised chair. Casey has lost the ability to stand and walk, and can no longer control the muscles used to speak.
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