I’m an audiologist very curious about the following possible use of this technology.
Please reach out to me if this is something we would like to discuss:
Currently, there are no commercially available wearable devices specifically designed to measure auricular muscle activity (such as the superior auricular muscle [SAM]) to assess listening effort in real-time. However, general electromyography (EMG) systems used in research and clinical settings can capture such muscle activity.
To monitor auricular muscle activity, researchers typically use surface EMG (sEMG) systems with electrodes placed near the ear muscles. These setups are primarily found in laboratory environments and are not yet adapted for everyday use.
Potential Applications in Educational and Workplace Settings
While these EMG systems are not yet practical for everyday classroom or workplace use, they hold potential for:
• Research Studies: Investigating the listening effort in individuals with auditory processing disorders (APD) under various acoustic conditions.
• Clinical Assessments: Providing objective data on listening effort, which could support the need for accommodations in educational or occupational settings.
• Development of Assistive Technologies: Informing the design of hearing aids or auditory training programs that adapt to the user’s listening effort.
