Project Abstract Sound Sensitivity and Tolerance (SST) disorders represent an urgent public health challenge in hearing disorders, affecting over 350,000 new patients annually in the United States with an economic burden exceeding $14 billion. While SST frequently co-occurs with conditions like autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, and migraine, current clinical assessment methods remain largely subjective and inaccessible, particularly for underserved populations. Recent research shows that Auditory Pupillary Response (APR) provides a promising objective biomarker for SST, as affected individuals exhibit distinct pupillary reactions to sound stimuli. However, measuring APR currently requires expensive clinical equipment and controlled laboratory settings, creating significant barriers to widespread adoption. This project aims to transform SST assessment through AudioSight, an innovative smartphone-based system that enables accessible, objective measurement of APR. Building on our preliminary data showing clear APR differentiation between SST patients (>15% change) and controls (<5% change), we will: (1) develop and validate a low-cost multi-wavelength infrared imaging system for precise pupillary measurements in uncontrolled environments, (2) conduct a large-scale clinical study (n=150) to identify novel APR-based biomarkers for SST detection and severity assessment, and (3) optimize system usability through rigorous human-centered design evaluation with both patients and healthcare providers. Our approach combines innovations in mobile optics, AI-enhanced image processing, and human-computer interaction to enable clinical-grade SST assessment on everyday smartphones. If successful, AudioSight will provide an accessible, objective tool for continuous SST monitoring, advancing both clinical care and scientific understanding of auditory disorders while addressing critical healthcare disparities in SST assessment.
Source: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/TdOXT0tjQ0OJZRipPKZV2Q/project-details/11279284