Aussie hearing app wins equity, inclusion award
As a female founder in the health tech space, this recognition is both a personal milestone and a step forward for greater inclusivity in innovation, says Carolyn Mee following Sound Scouts’ international win.
Australian start-up Sound Scouts has won the HLTH Foundation Techquity for Health Case Study award at the digital health awards event ViVe 2025 for its hearing assessment app for ageing Australians.
The app, which can be downloaded to an iPad and easily used by aged care residents, was trialled with the University of Newcastle and Maroba Caring Communities and supported by a grant from Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia.
Drawing heavily from gaming technology, the Sound Scouts app can be used for a range of cognitive abilities and has become part of Maroba’s daily practice, with each new resident receiving a hearing assessment through Sound Scouts and follow-up assessments done every six-to-12 months.
The app can also assist older people to feel less socially isolated, reduce fall risk and potentially reduce the onset and progress of cognitive decline.
Sound Scouts chief executive officer Carolyn Mee said it was an honour to be recognised at such a large international event with such an impressive group of innovators.
“Winning the Techquity Award highlights the importance of leveraging technology to improve health equity, and I’m incredibly proud that Sound Scouts is being acknowledged for its impact on hearing health accessibility,” she told Australian Ageing Agenda.
“As a female founder in the health tech space – where women-led startups are still vastly underrepresented – this recognition is both a personal milestone and a step forward for greater inclusivity in innovation. It validates the years of research, development, and commitment we’ve put into ensuring that hearing screening is more accessible, particularly for underserved communities like older Australians.”
Hearing loss is a significant but often overlooked issue in aged care, and can contribute to social isolation, an increased risk in falls and is a recognised risk factor for cognitive decline, Ms Mee said.
“Despite the clear need, many older Australians struggle to access timely hearing care due to mobility issues, workforce shortages, and limited audiology services in residential aged care settings,” Ms Mee told AAA.
“Technology like Sound Scouts provides a scalable, accessible solution to this challenge. By integrating digital hearing screening directly into aged care facilities, we can ensure that residents receive timely assessments without needing external referrals.
“The resulting information can empower staff with the information needed to provide personalised care. Identified hearing issues, managed appropriately – including hearing aid fittings – can enhance communication and social engagement and potentially slow cognitive decline.
“Inclusivity in healthcare means ensuring that all individuals – regardless of age, mobility, or cognitive ability – can access essential services, and Sound Scouts is helping to bridge that gap.”
Due to the limitations of existing hearing services, many residents live with undetected or unmanaged hearing loss, affecting their ability to communicate with staff and loved ones and can on occasion be misidentified as dementia. Ms Mee told AAA that the initial driver to develop Sound Scouts was the realisation of how prevalent and underdiagnosed hearing loss is among older people.
Ms Mee said the feedback for Sound Scouts has been overwhelmingly positive, with staff reporting improved communication with residents and 40 per cent of those identified with hearing loss expressing a willingness too meet with a clinician for further diagnostic assessment.
ARIIA chief executive officer Reuben Jacob also expressed delight at the success of their grant partner, telling AAA that he was “very happy that an Australian innovation has been recognised at a global stage.”
“The journey of Sound Scouts has been impressive, starting with children and then pivoting into older adults where there is a significant need, and they’ve done it in a wonderful way where they’ve co-designed it and redeveloped the solution so that it actually is fit for purpose.
“We are very, very proud that we played a role in their success.”
Sound Scouts was one of six international winners.
A new round of ARIIA’s accelerator grants are now open, with further information available here.
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