Introducing the Anxiety Meter
The Anxiety Meter provides a means to detect levels of emotional arousal, such as states of anxiety. Often anxiety can reach a state whereby the time the individual is displaying symptoms of anxiety, it may be too late for behavioural therapies to be optimally effective. Through patented algorithms, Anxiety Meter measures an individual's heart rate and notifies the child and/or caregivers of his or her anxiety level to empower users with greater awareness of anxiety and to improve health outcomes.
Why the Anxiety Meter was developed
Children with autism are at an increased risk for experiencing impairing anxiety symptoms. Anxiety can have a negative impact on an individual’s physical and mental health, increase risk of other psychiatric disorders, and cause social challenges. The Anxiety Meter was developed with the intent to complement behavioural therapy in autism by improving self-awareness for children and youth that experience anxiety and giving them the tools to identify and manage symptoms the moment they occur.
How it works
The Anxiety Meter uses a patented software algorithm to processes an individual's heart rate (collected through wearable sensors such as smart watches and fitness trackers) and other contextual data to identify moments of emotional arousal in near-real time. The information is then converted to a visual representation of the user’s anxiety level on a mobile app that is displayed to the child and/or caregiver.
The Anxiety Meter provides individuals with the tools to identify and manage symptoms as they occur, and can be employed by children, youth and adults to increase quality of life.
Opportunity
We welcome potential partnership and licensing inquiries.
Acknowledgements
Holland Bloorview is grateful to the following key partners for their financial and resource support: Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), POND network, TD Bank Group (TD), Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN), Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP), Samsung Canada, and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).
