Hasitha Wimalarathna is using AI to better assess a complex hearing condition called auditory processing disorder (APD).

Children with APD can hear sounds just fine. The problem is many of the sounds are garbled. The child’s brain can’t make sense of what the ears are hearing.  

About three to five per cent of children worldwide have APD. While the causes remain unknown, APD often appears alongside ADHD and autism.

“APD can affect a child’s confidence and ability to communicate with others and, left untreated, can hinder their quality of life,” says Hasitha, a postdoctoral fellow in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University.

But there’s hope. Early intervention and personalized therapies can make a significant difference, helping children manage symptoms and build stronger communication skills.

Hasitha is using the power of AI to support better pathways to care.

“I'm developing a hearing screening tool to make assessment more accurate and efficient. Right now, it usually takes hours in a clinic to assess a child for APD and sometimes they have to come in another day to finish the test. For audiologists, interpreting the test results can be challenging.”

Hasitha and his colleagues at Western’s National Centre for Audiology are partnering with Vivosonic, an Ontario-based tech company, to develop an algorithm using AI that will not only make the assessment faster and more accurate but will also help audiologists prescribe more effective treatment down the road.

“With this technology I want these kids to have a better quality of life.”

For as long as he can remember, Hasitha has always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. “When I was small, I wanted to become a medical doctor. I wanted to help people by easing their pain. But life took me on a different path where I became an engineer. I’m fascinated by how technology is used to address real world, complex medical challenges. I found a different way to help people who are in desperate need.”

It was a big pivot with the potential to make a big impact for children with APD, their families and health-care professionals. His advice for others who are thinking of making a change?

“Listen to what your heart says and follow that path. When I help someone, see their big smiles, it makes me keep doing what I do.”