Hearing diagnosis through resonance tracking of the middle ear (HöRTMit)

Focus:	Life Science Technologies Talents
Type of funding:	Individual funding programmes
Programme:	CZS research boost
Funded institution:	Reutlingen University

Prof. Simon Peter, Professor of Technical Mechanics at Reutlingen University, is developing a new measurement method for hearing diagnosis. The middle ear is specifically measured and the most relevant vibration variables are recorded with increased efficiency, accuracy and improved interpretability.

Goals

Millions of people around the world are affected by hearing disorders that require a precise diagnosis. Current methods such as tympanometry measure how the ear reacts to different frequencies. However, the eardrum and other parts of the auditory system do not always behave in the same way, especially under different pressure conditions.

The "HöRTMit" project is now developing a simplified method of hearing diagnosis that takes these challenges directly into account. By using a special sinusoidal excitation signal, the reaction of the auditory system to varying pressure ratios is measured in a targeted manner. The excitation is automatically adjusted to always isolate the most relevant response. This method enables a more efficient examination.

The method also improves the accuracy of the results. Instead of a lot of complicated data, only important parameters such as frequency and damping are considered. These parameters are crucial for understanding the vibration behavior of the ear and identifying possible hearing problems. Overall, this new method could facilitate the diagnosis of hearing disorders and significantly improve treatment.