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NEODREAM – RedIA Salud

AI-powered early screening of neurodevelopmental conditions through infant cry analysis

The challenge
Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD or developmental language disorder are often identified only after the age of 3 or 4. By then, part of the window of maximum brain plasticity has already passed, and that window is when early intervention has the greatest impact. Current screening tools rely mainly on behavioural observation and have important limitations in the first months of life.

Scientific evidence shows that the cries of infants at risk differ in measurable acoustic features, including duration, fundamental frequency and voice stability. These differences can appear long before behavioural signs become visible.

Our goal
NEODREAM aims to develop an artificial intelligence technology that analyses infant cries and early vocalisations to support the early screening of neurodevelopmental conditions and other pathologies in babies under 2 years of age. Infant sounds are captured passively and non-invasively at home, and the system turns them into objective, traceable and interpretable risk indicators for healthcare professionals.

What the project will deliver

  • A clinical dataset built through a multicentre observational study following more than 1,000 babies aged 0–24 months, in collaboration with leading Spanish hospitals.
  • An audio processing pipeline that turns real-world cry episodes into high-quality, traceable data.
  • Predictive AI models that generate explainable risk indicators adjusted for the baby’s age.
  • A secure clinical web platform where healthcare professionals can view and interpret results, as a decision-support tool that does not replace clinical judgement.
  • Regulatory preparation for certification as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) under the EU MDR.
  • A clinical pilot study to validate the technology in a real paediatric setting.

Clinical use case
After a newborn is discharged from hospital, the family can use a device with Zoundream technology that analyses the baby’s cries at home over the following months. Healthcare professionals then receive objective, longitudinal information on the infant’s development. This helps them prioritise cases earlier, bring forward specialist assessments and start interventions when they are most effective.

Clinical partners
The project is being carried out in collaboration with leading hospitals in Spain.

NEODREAM is a research and development project. The technology is not yet a certified medical device.

Public funding

 

The NEODREAM project (File No. 2025/0625/00297194) has been funded by the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service through Red.es, under the Red IA Salud 2025 call, and co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF 2021-2027).