Research preview · Pilot underway

Hear what matters. Soften what doesn't.

A research-driven AI system that gently shapes the sounds reaching your ears - through the headphones you already wear. Designed with and for neurodivergent users.

Join the waitlist Learn more
The problem

The world wasn't designed for sensitive ears.

For those of us with sound sensitivity - including autistic individuals and people with misophonia or hyperacusis - everyday sound isn't just background noise. It's exhausting, overwhelming, sometimes painful.

Quotes from parents and autistic adults who took part in our research: Scheerer et al. (2022), Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and an ongoing study by our team.

Today's options force a hard choice: block everything with noise-cancelling headphones - and lose conversation, alarms, and the world - or endure.

What blocking everything costs

  • The biggest drawback is when I can't hear people talking to me. I'll lift one of my ear cups or remove an earplug to hear someone but then I'm exposing myself again to the sounds I'm trying to block out.

    Autistic adult

  • I can't hear if something is coming up behind me, so I'm possibly more vulnerable to cars in the street, getting run over by shopping carts, and getting trampled or bumped into by passersby.

    Autistic adult

  • Sometimes my child does not hear what we are saying when she has her headphones on.

    Parent of an autistic child

This community is asking for:

  • Better filtering so that the bad sounds are filtered out while still being able to hear important sounds like speech.

    Autistic adult

  • I want the headphones to block noise but do not block out conversations.

    Study participant

  • The ability to cycle through inputs (silence, white noise, music, etc.) and controls (on/off & volume up/down, etc.) without having to fuss with my phone, which is hard to do with hands full or while engaged in shopping, loading/unloading, etc.

    Autistic adult

  • I would like a hearing device that is comfortable for my sensitive ears, does not feel/sound like I am under water, and minimizes background noise without affecting my ability to hear/participate in conversation.

    Autistic adult

We think there's a better way. Here's what we're building

What we're building

An intelligent layer between you and the world's noise.

Hearon is being built as software that runs on the headphones you already wear. Instead of blocking everything, it selectively softens the sounds that overwhelm you while keeping the ones that matter clear.

Selective, not total

Softens only the sounds that challenge you - speech and important safety cues stay clear.

Works with what you already own

Designed as an app for modern low-latency earbuds and over-ear headphones - not a new device.

Built with the people who need it

Co-designed and tested with autistic individuals, families, and clinicians, with privacy as a foundation.

How it works

Designed to adapt to you.

Instead of blocking all sound, Hearon is being developed around three core ideas.

Step 01

Recognize

Identifies different types of everyday sounds in your environment.

Step 02

Respond

Softens the sounds you find difficult - and only those - based on your personal preferences.

Step 03

Adapt

Learns over time to better support your changing needs and contexts.

We're currently testing and refining these capabilities through pilot research with autistic individuals, families, and clinicians.

Privacy first

A product that listens - without listening in.

We're building Hearon for a community that's been let down by surveillance-driven tech before. Trust isn't a feature for us - it's the foundation.

On-device by default

Audio is processed locally on your device wherever possible - not streamed to the cloud.

Nothing recorded, nothing identified

Hearon is designed to recognize sound categories - never to transcribe conversations or identify voices.

You're always in control

Pause, adjust, or turn Hearon off at any moment. Your sensitivities, your settings, your call.

Voices from our pilot

In their own words.

Early, unprompted feedback from autistic adults who have tried Hearon prototypes with our research team.

Who's building this

The research team behind Hearon.

Hearon grew out of a multi-year Simon Fraser University collaboration between autism researchers and engineers - and out of the families, autistic adults, educators, and clinicians who have shaped it from the very first prototype.

Co-designed with the community

From day one, autistic self-advocates, parents, teachers, and occupational therapists have defined the features, tested prototypes - including in virtual-reality soundscapes and real-world field tests - and told us plainly what works and what doesn't.

The approach, in one line

Two on-device AI models work together: one recognizes which sounds are present, the other separates the difficult ones from the rest of the soundscape so they can be softened, masked, or filtered - without touching speech or safety cues.

Selected publications

Supported by
FAQ

Your questions, answered honestly.

We're early - so we're committed to being clear about what Hearon is and isn't, today.

What is Hearon?
Hearon is a research project exploring how AI can support people with decreased sound tolerance through more personalized, real-time sound management - delivered through the headphones they already wear.
Will Hearon record or store my audio?
No. Hearon is being designed to process audio on-device wherever possible, recognizing sound categories - never transcribing conversations or identifying individual voices. Audio isn't stored or sent off your device for everyday use.
What devices will it work with?
Hearon is being built as an app that runs through modern low-latency earbuds and over-ear headphones - the kind most people already own. Because it works in real time, you'd use it during the day when headphones are already part of your routine, not while sleeping.
How is this different from noise-cancelling headphones or features like Apple's Adaptive Audio?
Noise cancellation reduces broad categories of sound - usually low-frequency background hum - without understanding context. Adaptive Audio features cap loud bursts. Hearon is being built to recognize specific sounds that are difficult for you, and soften those while preserving speech, alarms, and the cues that keep you connected to your environment.
Who is it for?
Our initial research centers on autistic individuals and others with decreased sound tolerance - including misophonia and hyperacusis - with plans to expand as we learn from the community.
When will it be available?
Hearon is in active research and not yet publicly available. Joining the waitlist is the best way to be notified as pilot cohorts and early access open up.
Is Hearon a medical device?
No. Hearon is a research project and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace any medical device or clinical care. We work alongside clinicians, not in place of them.
How can I get involved?
Pick who you are in the Get involved form below and send us a note, or email us directly. We're especially interested in hearing from autistic individuals, families, and clinicians.
Are you hiring?
Yes. We're looking for an experienced iOS developer for a project-based contract - a technical feasibility phase first, then the full MVP. See the iOS Mobile Application Developer posting for details and how to apply.
Get involved

Help shape Hearon - from the people we're designing for.

Whoever you are, there's a way to be part of the work. Tell us a little about you and we'll reply personally - usually within 1-2 business days. Prefer email? Write to admin@hearonai.com.

I'm reaching out as...

We never share your details. By submitting, you agree to be contacted about Hearon.