Audiso / Audiology with ISO
WithHearing is an audiometry solution designed to improve early detection of hearing loss and accessibility to audiometry through AI-powered self-monitoring and screening. It combines automated pure-tone audiometry(PTA), AI-based tympanic membrane(TM) analysis, and standardized questionnaire(RHHI-K; Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory) to provide comprehensive hearing tests. The user-friendly kiosk design can be placed anywhere, not just in medical settings, making hearing tests readily available without the need for audiologist or equipment.
The product, WithHearing, is an AI-based hearing test device that operates on a kiosk (or tablet) platform. It was developed as a hearing screening and monitoring tool through dedicated software and equipment (standard audiometric headphone, e.g., DD65v2). Users interact with the device via a touchscreen on the kiosk (or tablet) where the software is installed, proceeding through steps that include personal information input, standardized questionnaire, automated pure-tone audiometry, and AI-driven tympanic membrane examination. After all tests are completed, the user can receive the test results in PDF format via a message.
Based on the Type 4 Audiometer defined in IEC 60645-1: 2017, we ensured and verified performance in terms of frequency and intensity. Specifically, the performance criteria were secured as follows: Frequency range: 0.25-8 kHz, Intensity range: 0-110 dB, Frequency accuracy: ±2.5%, Intensity accuracy: ±3.7-6.2 dB (0.25 to 4 kHz: ±3.7 dB, 6,000 and 8,000 Hz: ±6.2 dB). The threshold measurement method follows the Ascending Method as described in ISO 8253-1: 2010, where the intensity of the stimulus sound automatically increases (or decreases) based on the subject's response, allowing automatic measurement of the hearing threshold for each frequency.
We derived the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the optimal conditions for detecting eardrum diseases based on individual substructures or their combinations. The combination of the malleus, cone of light, and umbo yielded the highest area under the curve (AUC) at 0.911, outperforming the AUC values of 0.737 to 0.873 obtained for each substructure individually. Therefore, an algorithm incorporating these five key normal anatomical structures demonstrates potential for both explainability and effectiveness in screening for abnormal tympanic membranes.
WithHearing's design makes self-administered hearing assessments more accessible and user-friendly. Its intuitive interface guides users through each step of the assessment process, providing clear instructions and visual prompts.
The kiosk incorporates specialized hardware, including a camera device that allows users to capture images of their own eardrums for AI-based analysis. This innovative feature, combined with the pure tone audiometry and survey components, provides a comprehensive hearing assessment without the need for specialized personnel.
Comfortable, high-quality headphones and the kiosk's intuitive interface makes the process feel less like a medical test and more like a self-guided health check. This encourages individuals to engage with the technology and take control of their hearing health in a relaxed and accessible setting.
Furthermore, the phyiscal kiosk and even the UI are both customizable, giving more flexibility and appeal to the institutions or companies that are seeking to use this device.
WithHearing introduces three key innovations to hearing healthcare:
1) Accessible and Comprehensive Hearing Assessments: WithHearing integrates multiple diagnostic tools—automated PTA, AI TM analysis, and questionnaires—into a single, user-friendly device. This integration enables reliable hearing tests in various environments without the need for specialized personnel.