Sparky is totally open source!
You can buy a completed Sparky, ready to use, or build it yourself. Everything you need is on this website for free, from a complete parts list with links, a complete build guide, all of the files to 3D print both the case and bone conduction headphones and the full Sparky software program do download.
Why Sparky?
According to the World Health Organization more than 1.5 billion people in the world suffer from hearing loss. Sparky is a very low cost, digital and programmable hearing solution for those who cannot afford or take advantage of traditional hearing aids. Sparky allows the user to enter the results of an audiogram hearing test directly, with no need for a smartphone or computer. Users can enter an audiogram from a hearing professional, or take a free online hearing test. Sparky is powerful enough to use a bone conduction transducer headset to stimulate the cochlea directly, bypassing a certain level of air conduction hearing loss. Sparky amplifies the sound, digitally filters the sound for a users’ specific hearing loss (audiogram) and provides other features like noise reduction and compression — all from a button controlled menu on the device itself!
Sparky is a hearing assist device and not a “hearing aid” in that Sparky is not prescribed and sold by a hearing professional, such as an audiologist.
Buy
From a member of the Sparky Maker community. Makers build Sparky’s for fun or minimal profit, offering a maximum sales price.
Build
Totally open source with free access to a full build guide, files and more. Build for about $150 in readily available modules, available online (Amazon and others).
Donate
Sparky works anywhere in the world and is fully programmable without a smartphone or computer, perfect for disadvantaged areas. Build and donate or buy and donate.
Programmable and Flexible
Wear Your Tech!
Hang Sparky around your neck for a quick, ready to go solution.
Bone Conduction Technology
Leave your ears open to the world and augment your hearing with bone conduction, or use any set of standard earbuds.
Hide Sparky Away
Tuck Sparky into a pocket, use the included lapel stereo mic and either any standard wired earbuds of our bone conduction headset.
Why Sparky?
Several major studies have revealed that hearing loss leads to social isolation, depression and even — oddly — balance issues. I suffer from major hearing loss in my left ear and near total deafness in my right ear. I could comprehend that people were talking, but frequently could not understand what they were saying. My granddaughters were totally unintelligible! The cheapest solution I found was a $1250 hearing aid (again, that was the cheapest) for my left ear only. Sparky, on the other hand, can be built for a little over $150. With standard hearing aids nothing could be done for my deaf right ear. I started thinking about all those folks who suffer from hearing loss and — unlike me — had no insurance coverage for it. So over several months I started developing both the Sparky controller box and a very inexpensive bone conduction headset. Sparky works as well for me as that $1250 hearing aid, but also — via bone conduction — restores partial hearing in my deaf right ear by bypassing air conduction and stimulating the cochlea directly (see more about this on this site).
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