hearScreen

Hearing loss is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease (GBD) with 1 in 7 persons affected (GBD, 2016). The recent GBD report estimated that almost one billion people (940 million) suffered from hearing loss in 2015 (GBD, 2016). This makes it the 2nd most common impairment ahead of visual impairment as measured on the years lived with disability (YLD) index.

Timely provision of medical and audiological interventions has the potential to significantly reduce this burden. The first point of entry for providing appropriate interventions however, require early detection options that are accurate, efficient and widely accessible. hearScreen provides an entirely new solution for traditional barriers to the detection of disabling hearing loss by using low cost, commercially available hardware (a smartphone and headphone) together with a custom developed software application. Besides cutting costs by more than 80% compared to traditional devices the innovation significantly improves and alters current models of school and community-based prevention for hearing loss by allowing non-specialist personnel to conduct screening in resource constrained environments. Quality control features such as environmental noise monitoring, automated testing and interpretation along with cloud-based data management and surveillance differentiate it entirely from current options. Location-based data also enable direct communication with patients (or their caregivers) by text message or email linking them to their closest hearing health providers.