The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) is a government funded body that drives research to improve hearing health and rehabilitation. One of NAL's key research projects centred around Spatial Processing Disorder i.e. the inability to make use of the direction that sound is coming from.

NAL had developed an effective but laborious software platform that was successful in remediating SPD over a 10 week period. The challenge was engagement, with children being required to attend an auditory clinic in order to engage with the Software. Our qualitative audience research revealed that the key issue was engagement, with many children failing to complete the laborious 10-week course. 

Utilising key skillsets across the Group, we developed the Sound Storm remediation application, an auditory training game that layered gaming and reward aspects over a 10-week training course. The game featured a multi-layered reward mechanic providing feedback, daily unlocks and weekly rewards that open up new worlds and progress the story to ensure engagement for the duration of the campaign. Importantly, the reward mechanic is driven by the auditory training algorithm with reward and progression activated when the algorithm detects the required progress and auditory improvement.

Gameplay is translated into detailed medical graphs, so a child's preferred audiologist can monitor and track remedial progress accurately.

Studies have shown incredible results, with 100% of SPD affected children who complete the programme being shown to have been cured of the disorder. The project was also the agency’s most awarded piece of work... ever. Picking up numerous local and international awards, including a highly coveted Webby Award and Good Design Award.

Overview 

The Challenge 

NAL had developed an effective software program for Spatial Processing Disorder, but children were required to attend an auditory clinic across a 10-week course. 

Audience research identified engagement and completion as the central barriers. The experience needed to sustain motivation without changing the underlying remediation logic. 

The Opportunity 

A digital product could make the program more accessible outside the clinic while retaining the clinical algorithm that underpinned the treatment. 

Gamification, narrative and remote progress tracking created an opportunity to support children, families and audiologists throughout the course. 

Our Approach 

Deepend combined qualitative research, game design, character development and product engineering to create Sound Storm around NAL's existing auditory training algorithm. 

The creative layer was designed to reward progress detected by the underlying algorithm, while clinical data was translated into graphs that audiologists could review remotely. 

What We Delivered 

• Qualitative audience research 
• Digital product and game design 
• Gamification and reward mechanics 
• Original character and environment design 
• Animated between-level cinematics 
• Integration with NAL's remediation algorithm 
• Remote clinician progress tracking 
• Real-time clinical progress reporting 
• Medical-data visualisation 
• Mobile remediation experience 

Impact 

• 70% increase in patients undertaking the 10-week course, as reported on the live case study 
• Study-reported 100% remediation success among children who completed the program 
• Remote progress monitoring enabled for audiologists 
• Real-time progress reporting for users and clinicians 
• Multiple local and international awards, including a Webby Award and Good Design Award

Problem & Insight 

The original program could remediate spatial processing difficulties, but the clinic-based format made a 10-week commitment difficult for children and families. 

Research showed that emotional support, play, challenge and reward needed to work together to sustain participation. 

Strategy & Experience Design 

Deepend created a rich narrative world with original characters, environments, daily unlocks and weekly rewards. Progress through the experience was tied to the underlying auditory training algorithm rather than superficial game completion. 

The creative layer was designed to make the training feel more approachable while preserving the clinical logic of the original program. 

Technology & Delivery 

NAL's algorithm continued to assess the child's interaction and determine progression. Deepend integrated the application layer so that game rewards responded to measured auditory improvement. 

Training data was translated into clinical graphs and real-time reports, allowing audiologists to monitor progress remotely. 

Results 

The source reports a 70% increase in patients undertaking the 10-week program after the digital experience was introduced. 

It also reports 100% remediation among children who completed the program and notes that Sound Storm received multiple awards, including a Webby Award.