Women's Health Technology Is Becoming More Accessible

Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, she’s really smart.) Read her column here each month to learn about what’s happening in the world of technology and innovation in women’s health.My sister works as an emergency veterinary technician, where every shift is filled with barking dogs, beeping medical equipment, ringing phones and anxious pet owners. She also has ADHD, and all that noise can quickly become overwhelming. The constant sounds make it harder for her to think clearly and can even trigger anxiety.Being the helpful sister that I am, I bought her a pair of Loop earplugs last year. Unlike traditional earplugs that block out sound completely, they lower background noise while still allowing her to hear conversations and alarms. Now she wears them at work and often at home with her energetic 5-year-old son. She says they help her stay calmer and more focused and feel less overstimulated throughout the day.Her experience made me realize how important accessibility technology is. Accessibility tech includes products designed for people with limited hand mobility, hearing loss, vision impairment, chronic pa...