DJS Global Hearing Health

Phase 1: Test Framework & Clinical Pathway (Capstone, Fall–Spring)

The first phase of my work focused on laying the groundwork for device validation. Before the screening tool can reach patients, it needs to be tested under controlled, repeatable conditions. I led the development of a standardized testing protocol using the IHS Baby ISAO simulator (a training tool that replicated the acoustic response of a newborn ear) enabling us to collect realistic operating data without requiring human trials during early development of the entire system.

A major part of this effort was coordinating with outside organizations to build the regulatory and clinical background required to initiate preliminary human trials. This meant engaging and aligning our various stakeholders like our audiologists, academic partners, and clinical collaborators. We then went about creating the documentation infrastructure that would support a credible path toward validation.

On the technical side, I began developing a Python-based data collection schema that interfaces with the OAE test board through its serial port, coordinating with logic analyzers and oscilloscopes to capture comprehensive performance data. The goal was to automate device operation during simulated testing sessions and structure the output for analysis, with the architecture designed to eventually support actual clinical trial data collection.

Phase 2: UI Prototyping & International Deployment (Summer 2025)

For summer 2025, I was hired as one of three research assistants to take the project's next major step: building the first field-reprogrammable user interface prototypes. Working with teammates Arianne Fong '27 and Antara Mazumdar '28, we designed and built two complete UI prototypes for A/B testing with our clinical partners.

The two prototypes tested a core design question: "Would a graphical LCD screen or an LED-with-icons interface be more effective for community healthcare workers performing hearing screenings?"

Both prototypes simulate a complete hearing screening interaction. Our test users can step through the workflow as if conducting an actual test giving our partners in Guatemala concrete UX to evaluate rather than abstract wireframes or figma prototypes. To define those workflows, I helped distill six years of accumulated user interviews and co-design insights into the interaction flows we integrated into the final designs.

My specific contributions spanned the hardware pipeline. I designed the PCB for the LCD prototype in KiCad (built around the XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller), created all of the mechanical enclosure designs in Fusion 360, and handled all manufacturing and assembly — laser cutting, 3D printing, and mechanical integration. I also brought on our part-time team member (Antara '28) to handle the soldering and PCB assembly work, which gave her hands-on experience while keeping the project on schedule.

Once the prototypes were complete, we shipped them to our collaborators in Guatemala and ran virtual co-design sessions to gather feedback. A key design decision was making the prototypes field-reprogrammable — future students can send firmware updates that alter the user interface and then collect additional feedback without needing to ship new hardware. This dramatically accelerates the design iteration cycle across international partnerships.

As part of the summer work, we also researched open hardware licensing frameworks focusing on the CERN Open Hardware License (OHL) and prepared recommendations and reports for our project advisor on how to structure the project's open-source release going forward.