TheraPod Revolutionary Fun Happy Music Therapy for Kids at Home

Problem Statement

Children with cochlear implants must undergo regular music and speech therapy to train their ears and brain to recognize sound variations. However, formal therapy is limited to once a week, and parents often struggle to continue the training at home due to lack of knowledge and tools aligned with the therapists’ curriculum. This creates a gap in consistent auditory development.

Contributors

Atharva Jajoo

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About TheraPod Revolutionary Fun Happy Music Therapy for Kids at Home

Solution

A compact acrylic box with: 6 buttons (5 functional + 1 reset) LCD display (I2C module connected to Arduino A4 & A5) DFPlayer Mini MP3 module connected to Arduino (Rx/Tx) Internal speaker with grill for sound output Arduino-based control system Clean design with 3D-printed keycaps and laser-cut casing Enables mode selection and interactive learning aligned to therapy goals

Additional Info

Idea: To design an interactive music therapy device called TheraPod that: Enables daily at-home practice Aligns with therapist-set curriculum Is engaging and rewarding for children (e.g., dancing robot, sounds, feedback) SDGs in Focus: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities By supporting the mental and auditory health of hearing-impaired children and bridging accessibility gaps in therapy. Solution Brainstorming: Initial idea: A robot with speaker & mic, connected to a mobile app Three interactive modes including repeating sounds and responding to audio cues Prototype had: Buttons for rhythm, pitch, reset Simple sound feedback mechanism Realized need for better sound quality, usability, and curriculum alignment after return to Mumbai

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