Texas A&M University Students Design Low-Cost Otoscope To Help Diagnose Hearing Loss In Developing Countries
According to the World Health Organization 360 million people in the world suffer from hearing loss. A large portion of those affected live in developing countries, particularly South Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa. Experts say at least half of all hearing loss cases are avoidable through primary prevention. In developing countries, however, primary prevention is hard to come by.
That is why a group of students at Texas A&M University has designed a low-cost otoscope that when plugged into a smartphone, can take photos of the inside of the ear. The group, members of Texas A&M's chapter of Engineering World Health, has designed and built a model LED otoscope that it is submitting to the national organization's design competition. The group's hope is that its design could be turned into a kit for easy production around the world.
That is why a group of students at Texas A&M University has designed a low-cost otoscope that when plugged into a smartphone, can take photos of the inside of the ear. The group, members of Texas A&M's chapter of Engineering World Health, has designed and built a model LED otoscope that it is submitting to the national organization's design competition. The group's hope is that its design could be turned into a kit for easy production around the world.