Helping people
hear the world
around them
hear the world
around them
Exploring how enhanced spatial cues could help people with hearing loss locate sounds, follow conversations and stay aware of their surroundings.
FUNDED BY
EPSRC - 3 Year Award - £510K
Led BY
Queen Mary University of London
Partners
Imperial College London & Eargym
The Problem
Everyday listening depends on knowing where sounds come from. Hearing loss and hearing-aid processing can weaken these spatial cues, making it harder to separate competing sounds and stay aware of our surroundings.
Our approach
We will combine machine learning and auditory modelling to develop enhanced spatial cues using virtual ear shapes. These will produce head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) that exaggerate the acoustic differences associated with sound direction.
Listening experiments and perceptual training will test whether people can learn to use these cues effectively.
Funding
The project is led by Dr Aidan Hogg at Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with Imperial College London and Eargym Ltd.
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Scheme: New Investigator Award
EPSRC award reference: UKRI5157
Full Economic Cost: £637,359.47
Duration: 3 years
Planned start: Autumn 2026
Contact
For collaborations, recruitment, or project inquiries, please contact Aidan Hogg via the details on the Contact page.
Sponsors & Collaborations
