The ability to hear is arguably the most important human perception next to being able to see. Hearing plays an integral role in the way in which we digest the world around us, but like your vision, it will become less sharp over time. Age, as well as countless other factors affect your hearing on a daily basis. AudioCardio has come up with an easily accessible solution backed by data and science to offer mobile hearing assessments and sound therapies. By doing this, they aim to protect, maintain, and improve hearing (and perhaps reduce tinnitus.) Think of it like physical therapy for your hearing.
Their “Threshold Sound Conditioning” technology allows you to generate personal audio therapies that will stimulate and strengthen your cells. You can start today by downloading their iOS app or you can sign up to be notified of their android release here. By using their in-app digital hearing screening, they first test for more frequencies than you’d typically get with an analog hearing test. Then, you would activate your own personal therapy session for one hour per day in hopes of protecting, maintaining and improving your natural hearing ability.
The AudioCardio app allows you to access your streaming platforms from within. What this amounts to is a nearly inaudible sound behind your favorite tunes for one hour out of your typical daily listening routine. Over time, the sound becomes more audible. At this time, you would take a new assessment because—your hearing has improved. The app is free for 21 days which is enough time to know if the AudioCardio sound therapy is working for you. They claim that some individuals with hearing loss or tinnitus expressed that they noticed improvements in as little as a week.
AudioCardio™ Sound Therapy
As a musician, and a regular of loud public places, my hearing has lost some of its luster due to noise exposure. Our hearing works by processing sound waves traveling through the air. These signals are then sent as nerve signals to the brain where it then recognizes it as sound. In a nutshell, this is the human perception of hearing. I spoke with Chris Ellis from AudioCardio to gain a better understanding of the way they’re trying to strengthen this vital perception. He told me “we’re remapping the auditory pathways more commonly known as neuroplasticity.” Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections. All of this was wildly fascinating to me because of how amazingly deaf I already am at 28 years old.
“Our goal is to help promote and support synaptic connections to send [the nearly inaudible sound] to your brain thus revitalizing or creating auditory pathways,” Chris said. What this meant to me was that they’re allocating new synapses in your brain to reinforce the existing ones dedicated to your current hearing. Chris went on to say that “we liken this to driving to work on the very first day. At first, you need directions. But after a while it becomes natural, our cells behave the same way.” The way this technology works is by understanding an individual’s threshold of sound through the in-app hearing assessment, and then strengthening it through with low-level acoustic stimulation to promote neuroplasticity. With over 60 patent cases, multiple clinical studies, and more than 15 years of R&D, AudioCardio has justifiable evidence that their technology works.
How Do You Start?
You can start by downloading the app from the App Store and plugging in your headphones, even if they connect via Bluetooth. The app will immediately take you through your first hearing test. It does this by calibrating your left, then your right ear having you set levels for little siren-like sounds at a barely audible decibel. The assessment gives you five different low and high frequency sounds you set levels for per ear, but the test overall takes less than three minutes.
Now that your assessment is done, you can now begin your therapy in the app while accessing any of your favorite streaming platforms. Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and more can be used during your therapy to the point that it could easily be integrated into your daily routine. Whether you’re on your daily run, commute, or late night study session, you have an hour you can easily devote to preserving and improving your hearing.
If you repeat this process daily, “over time that tiny sound will become audible,” Chris said. At which time you go back and take another hearing assessment because it means your hearing has improved. Chris went on to say that “we’re forming new pathways and continually stimulating them.” Mr. Ellis said the obvious “goal is to reverse hearing loss and reduce tinnitus.”
Additional Applications Of Threshold Sound Conditioning
By having a constantly updating hearing assessment on record in your app, you’re literally able to track your progress. By also having this highly accurate digital hearing assessment, AudioCardio can program the music you listen to your specific hearing abilities and levels. This proprietary equalizer they’ve integrated into their sound therapy app will give you the perfect balance for each ear. They refer to this as their HD Sound that you can quickly re-calibrate to give you the highest quality listening experience.
AudioCardio is free for 21 days to try, at which time they say you’ll be able to tell if this therapy is a good option for you. I just got my hands on the app, got my hearing assessment, and did my first therapy. I’ll be reporting back in a month from now with my progress. I dream of a world where I can hear like I did before years of performing and concert-going took its toll.
