Researchers at the University of Essex have developed a free mobile app that turns an iPhone or iPod into a hearing aid, using the phone’s microphone and a set of headphon.
Unlike standard hearing aids that simply amplify all sounds, the BioAid app is inspired by biology and replicates the complexities of the human ear. Its creators say it puts the user in control, is available to anyone, anywhere, without the need for a hearing test, and potentially holds the key to a future where tiny, phone-based hearing aids can be dispensed and adjusted remotely.
BioAid, which is available on iTunes, has been developed by Professor Ray Meddis of Essex’s Department of Psychology with Nick Clark, formerly a Research Officer in the Department and Dr Wendy Lecluyse of University Campus Suffolk. Unlike standard aids that have a single setting, BioAid has six fixed settings each of which has four fine-tuning settings allowing the user to find the perfect match for their deafness.
Professor Meddis explained: “It’s not inconceivable that we’ll wear phones on our wrist in the near future, or even as tiny devices behind the ear. With the BioAid algorithm and wi-fi technology, we could see dispensers able to remotely adjust the settings on a phone-based aid and even monitor use to ensure the user is getting the most out of it.”
The development of BioAid, which has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Phonak, is part of a research project to influence the future of hearing aids. The researchers want to hear about people’s experiences using BioAid so that they can continue to perfect the technology. Users can get in touch, and find further information at: http://bioaid.org.uk/.
Download BioAid, the biologically inspired hearing aid, at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bioaid/id577764716
Photo credit: Yuichirock
The Limping Chicken is supported by a range of charities and organisations linked to deafness, all of whom offer services that enhance deaf lives. Click on the images on the right-hand side of this site or go to our Supporter’s page to find out all about them!
Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:
The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf journalist, screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.
Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.
The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:
- BSL Zone: TV programmes in BSL for the Deaf community
- Deaf Umbrella: what support is available for deaf students?
- Bellman & Symfon: home alerting solutions, including the mobile phone transceiver!
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- SignHealth: check out the BSL health library
- 999 BSL: call 999 in an emergency, in BSL
- Appa: Looking for RSLIs, TSLIs and CSWs, apply here!
- Signly: Adding BSL to websites
- Signworld: Learn BSL online!
- DCAL: world-class research into deafness, cognition and language
- Action Deafness: “A Deaf-Led Charity” – interpreting & community support services
- Sign Solutions: Instant access to Interpreters, training and BSL translation nationwide
- InterpretersLive: On demand BSL video interpretation
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- BID: Deaf services, including advice and support, interpreting, employment and letters
- Performance Interpreting: BSL interpreting at concerts
- National Deaf Children's Society: The leading charity for deaf children
kimerskine
March 27, 2013
Reblogged this on Official Blog of Kimberly Erskine.
Dale K.
April 7, 2013
Have any of your readers tested this or similar apps? There are many apps like this which act as hearing aids, but most have proved not too practical for reasons that I explain below.
As a hearing aid user with modest age related hearing loss, I use a pair of Bernafon hearing aids. I am not impressed. Even though I have a very competent audiologist who has adjusted them to the best performance, I find they make only a small difference. I have tested several other brands, and several other audiologist, and am convinced that these are the best. They just aren’t good enough.
But then I am also a long time Apple Computer enthusiast, so when I found a number of apps that acted as hearing aids, I began testing them. Here too I was disappointed. But the potential is there.
I would like to hear more in you blog about all this. It would be very useful to have a continuing discussion and regular reviews of the hearing aid apps. Here are some of my thoughts on which I hope you will comment on in the future.
I am not talking about apps that allow you to send phone calls or adjust your hearing aids using the iPhone. I am talking about replacing the hearing aids.
Most people already own a smart phone. My hearing aids cost over $ 4000. The apps cost less than $ 10. Most are free.
The apps I have tried do not provide the quality of sound yet that the hearing aids do, but it is clear to me that they soon will be able to do as well, and far excel the in-ear hearing aids.
Why? One factor is feedback. Years ago people were ashamed to wear something in their ear. No longer. Yet the hearing aid companies have not figured that out yet. All the hearing aids that I have ever seen are confined to the ear, placing the microphone and the speaker either in or just behind the ear. The result is that feedback seems to limit the ability to increase volume. That’s incredibly stupid. Today most people would be happy to wear a microphone on the lapel, belt, wrists, or anywhere. It’s cool. And it would eliminate the feedback problem.
The apple iPhone is a powerful computer. Because it is not squashed into a tiny package like a typical hearing aid, it can be far more flexible and powerful. Use it!
What it appears to lack is 1. a good stereo microphone, and good stereo headset that is not awkward to wear. (Fine to wear earbuds, a bother to wear large full high quality headphones.)
The microphones must so designed as to allow the user to be aware of the direction a sound is coming from as ones ears do naturally. Properly designed they should be able to improve on the natural ear in this respect.
Bluetooth is a lousy system, but hopefully it will soon be replaced or at least significantly improved. There are bluetooth microphones on the market. I don’t know if they are good enough. Hopefully, reviews and testing by people like yourself would answer that question.
I do not know of any Bluetooth ear buds that do not have a microphone built in. Until this exist they are not useful as they present the same feedback problem that most hearing aids do. Again, reviews and feedback from your readers might find a solution to this problem. Until then I suspect we will have to do with wired ear buds. But they must be high quality.
Most of the apps that I have tried do not seem to be able to reduce the volume of my voice when I am speaking. This problem must be solved before they will become useful.
Again, reviews, testing, and reader input, would you go a long way to sorting out which apps are the most interesting.
I would like to suggest a separate section of your blog be set aside for this sort of thing.
If you know any other sites that discuss these topics, please let me know. You are welcome to publish this letter in your blog if you want, and in any case I hope you will discuss these topics at length.
Best,
Dale
Peter O'Connor
October 30, 2013
I was excited to read about this development sounds super. Then I thought my hearing aids have entirely different settings so the question is would an iPhone be able to have different settings for each ear. I don’t have an iphone an iphone and they are expensive if the app is not satisfactory but I would gladly have one if the concept proved a reliable alternative to present hearing aids.
John Tanner
February 29, 2016
i need an iPod hearing aid app that cuts out all sounds except the human voice, and allows me to easily change the volume into my ear.
naresh mehndiratta
August 16, 2016
but it is not good enough as ihear better by ottosoft , but now it is not available on apple store now a days i had installed on iphone4s but unfortunately my iphone had broken
naresh mehndiratta
August 16, 2016
now i want to install it again this on iphone5 but apple is not allowed to have it either they have rem oved it after all ihear better was the best hearing aid app on iphone