UP experts develop PH’s first AI-powered newborn hearing tester

Experts from the University of the Philippines Manila have developed the country’s first locally manufactured Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) device, using machine learning to detect hearing loss in newborns.

The device, called Hearing for Life (HeLe), uses over-the-ear headphones to deliver acoustic stimuli that activate the infant’s internal auditory pathways.

As the sound travels, electrodes placed on the newborn’s head track nerve impulses along the auditory pathway from the cochlea to the brainstem.

“By leveraging AI to analyze these tracings, HeLe delivers an immediate ‘pass’ or ‘refer’ result,” UP Manila said in a statement.

“This automation eliminates the need for an on-site audiologist, thanks to the machine learning model that analyzes results in real time—a life-saving advantage in rural areas where specialists are scarce.”

The Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center (NHSRC) noted that over 90% of hearing-impaired infants remain undiagnosed, missing the critical window for early intervention.

The center added that untreated hearing loss can cost up to ₱5.8 million for specialized care.

Being the first locally manufactured AABR device, HeLe costs only ₱150,000, significantly lower than imported brands that can cost up to ₱1.2 million.

The device comprises three components: a wireless module, headphones, and a display console running the HeLe Android application.

“While simpler devices merely assess the inner ear, the AABR remains the clinical gold standard, evaluating the outer hair cells of the inner ear and neural pathways,” UP Manila said.

“It employs a patented algorithm trained on a vast dataset of Filipino auditory waveforms, calibrated to the neuro-auditory signatures of the Filipino population. This allows the device to detect complex conditions, such as auditory neuropathy, which traditional tests often overlook,” it added.—MCG, GMA Integrated News