Hearing Care Platform

The Hearing Care Platform aims at raising awareness of, and promoting, hearing health in youths. It translates cutting-edge research into accessible noise exposure self-assessment tools to foster a healthy hearing-environment for youths and, in turn, contribute to their mental wellness.

The platform has three technical components

  • a listening-level measuring kiosk,

  • an Android smartphone-based noise level measurement app

  • a web server


The kiosk is a reproducible, educational tool to inform young listeners about the effects and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) associated with the use of personal music devices. The app is a portable and intuitive noise measurement solution that provides a personalized noise exposure tool available on any smartphone that can be understood by non-specialized users and used in a University context (outside occupational noise contexts). The web server collects and aggregates all the data and allows for their processing.

Listening-level measuring kiosk

Each participant with his/her "personal music player" and headphones or earphones

Available on the 4th floor of the Marvin Duchow Music Library during Library operating hours

User-friendly individual assessment with a gamified approach

Short-term measurements in a one-month assessment

Risk indicator and information targeted to music students

Deployment

Students will be guided through a:

1. Kick-off meeting : Training, smartphone calibration and audiometric testing

2. One-month assessment

3. Wrap-up meeting: Results analysis and discussion

Noise levels measurement app consists of :

Each participant's personal smartphone

External Microphone and custom calibration

Noise levels and exposure duration and frequency for each "noisy" activity

Results and Outcomes

The data acquired through the kiosk and the mobile app will be used to produce an easily understandable estimate of one’s ears predicted ageing (Age of Your Ears) and weekly noise exposure. In combination with the dedicated web server and outreach activities, the kiosk and the mobile app will create a knowledge mobilization platform which will provide users with a personalized “live picture” of their exposure to noise, as well as the tools needed to nurture and develop their own hearing-care strategies.

Considered altogether, the kiosk, the mobile app, and the web server define a compact ecosystem for the characterization of the personalized noise exposure, from recreational to professional activities, and ultimately, a platform for the promotion of hearing-care, prevention of NIHL and its effects on mental health.