Students set sights on business success with sound online idea
Restored Hearing Ltd was set up last summer by Eimear O’Carroll and Rhona Togher, together with Anthony Carolan, their former science teacher at Ursuline College in Sligo. The girls were part of a team that scooped a top prize at the 2009 BT Young Scientist competition for their simple therapy which eases temporary tinnitus for anyone with internet access and a set of outer ear headphones. The problem results in a ringing in the ears caused by loud music, workplace noise amongst other causes. By logging onto their website, customers can choose from a range of low frequency tones which will be played back at them. In more than 95% of people the team tested the technology with, the soothing tones helped to stop the high-pitched ringing which can be caused by a range of sources.
Most people suffer temporary tinnitus at some stage but most often after being exposed to loud music, which could be at a concert or as a result of listening to personal music players. “It’s usually a ringing or a shrill high-pitched sound, caused by a bending of the tiny hairs which carry sound receptors in the inner ear,” explains Eimear, who is studying physics at University of Edinburgh.
