Inventor: Dr. Louise Allen, Cambridge University Hospitals and DigiBel
Over 5% of the world’s population including 34 million children have disabling hearing loss. In children the most common cause of hearing impairment is “glue ear” (otitis media with effusion), and approximately 80% of primary school children in the USA and Europe experience it during their childhood. Additionally around 20% of children suffer from repeated bouts of hearing impairments due to glue ear. Children in low- and middle-income countries are less likely to have the condition detected early and therefore more likely to develop conductive hearing loss caused by glue ear and its complications.
Reduced hearing in primary school age children occurs at a critical time for speech acquisition and social development. Population screening programs are typically hindered by cost, lack of trained staff and poor data capture.
To address these problems, the inventor has developed DigiBel to provide an easy way to screen primary school age children for hearing issues. It is intended to be suitable for community use without clinical support.
DigiBel is an innovative online audiometer which can run on any iPad tablet. The system uses comfortable and affordable air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) transducers (headphones) to screen and test hearing thresholds in children 4 years and over.
By comparing AC and BC hearing levels, DigiBel can identify those children who could benefit from using commercially available microphone / BC headphone kits as assistive technology while waiting for the glue ear to resolve with time or while waiting for active treatment. This hearing assistance can support normal social and educational interactions in children who suffer from repeated bouts of hearing impairment and while awaiting resolution.The challenge for the i-Team is to investigate the opportunities for DigiBel in low and middle-income countries and to recommend the best way to maximise its use and help the maximum number of children with hearing impairments.