Treating Auditory Hypersensitivity in Autistic Children using Virtual Ambisonics

Currently in the UK, approximately 1 per 100 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Often they have difficulties in processing auditory sensory information and can experience hypersensitivity to common everyday sounds, manifesting via negative behavioural responses. Without early and targeted therapy, this can lead to negative impacts of a child's social development and ultimately their mental health,wellbeing and quality of life.

The aim of this project is to research and develop a system that utilises hearable technology to monitor the correlation between real-time auditory input and biometric data, with the purpose of detecting the emotional response to sounds within a listener's local environment. By measuring the electrodermal activity associated with stress, it will be possible to identify specific auditory stimuli which cause emotional distress which can help inform psychological interventions and manage a child's auditory environment. Furthermore, the system has the potential in the application of an intelligent noise control technique designed to manage real-world soundscapes.