Student builds device to protect premature babies’ hearing

Olivia designed this cap to reduce harmful sounds, which can be adjusted for a snug fit over the baby's head. But first she came up with a sound box and discovered what materials might work to bring down the decibels in order to build the special hearing device for premature babies.

“(With) premature babies, their auditory system is not fully developed. They are born early, so these sounds that can seem normal to us are actually really hurting their ears. I feel like it’s a really good problem to address. I’ve always had a special connection to premature babies”, she explained.

After months of research and trial and error, Olivia came up with four materials.

“Silicone, foam, 120-pound card stock and a foam,” she described.

Those materials are placed inside the earpiece, which can be adjusted for a snug fit across the babies’ head, working as a head warmer and ear protector.

Olivia has two patents pending on her cap and then plans to test the device. Her final goal is to get this invention into the market.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2NijL87