大象传媒

Bridging Neuroscience, Engineering, and Education for Autism Support

July 31, 2025

This month鈥檚 issue of Education Research Matters shines a spotlight on Faculty of Education cognitive psychologist Dr. Elina Birmingham, whose research at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and education is shaping new possibilities for autism support. She takes an interdisciplinary approach to address challenges faced by neurodiverse learners, with research spanning assistive technologies, special education, and community outreach. She and her research team have developed an innovative AI-based mobile application, which aims to improve the quality of life for children and youth with autism who experience decreased sound tolerance.

Dr. Elina Birmingham鈥敶笙蟠� Faculty of Education member and autism researcher 鈥攈as presented her work at the 2024 Virtual Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Event. Her contributions have also been recognized with Canadian and US patents for her original noise detection and management system.

Much of Dr. Birmingham鈥檚 work has focused on improving the inclusion and quality of life of autistic children, particularly those who experience decreased sound tolerance (DST)鈥� a condition in which everyday sounds can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Collaborating since 2016 with 大象传媒 colleague Professor Siamak Arzanpour (Mechanics and Mechatronics Engineering), she has investigated how auditory sensitivities impact learning and well-being.

Sounds such as chattering voices, barking dogs, or traffic noise (鈥渢rigger sounds鈥�) can cause distress, posing barriers to learning or accessing educational environments. In response, Dr. Birmingham co-developed a groundbreaking AI-based mobile application designed to detect, manage, and personalize auditory environments for individuals with DST. This collaborative endeavour exemplifies how bridging neuroscience and engineering can lead to tangible, scalable solutions for learners with special needs.

To help improve the quality of life for these children and youth, Dr. Birmingham worked with Dr. Arzanpour and others in an interdisciplinary 大象传媒-wide team to . With the (AEL), of which Dr. Birmingham is director, and with support and funding from the Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN), the technology was tested on autistic youth and adults with DST in auditory and virtual reality environments. Through customizable headphone settings, affected individuals could choose options like sound masking, active noise cancellation, and smart filtration. The technology was found to improve users鈥� comfort levels in the presence of trigger sounds and is being field-tested in community settings. The launch of the mobile app, Hearon, is scheduled for 2026 with support from a $454,000 CAD gift the team has received from TD Ready Commitment through the Kids Brain Health Foundation, and a $100,000 CAD contribution from KBHN.

In a KBHN , Dr. Birmingham and colleagues explain that having a means of detecting and filtering out problematic sounds can enhance the lives of autistic individuals. Particularly for children and youth, it could mean being able to access noisy settings, like school, with an increase sense of comfort and control. Such life-changing opportunities are fundamental to creating a more inclusive world.

By weaving together the insights of cognitive neuroscience, the precision of engineering, and a deep understanding of educational contexts, Dr. Birmingham鈥檚 work exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary research to foster inclusive futures for autistic individuals.