At Tinnitus Sync, we believe that tracking, managing, and habituating to tinnitus should be seamless and accessible to everyone. Our application is built from the ground up utilizing Apple's native software frameworks (SwiftUI and watchOS), allowing us to offer deep integration with native iOS and watchOS accessibility features.
1. Our Framework Compliance
Tinnitus Sync is engineered to support the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards and follows the design principles of Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) regarding software inclusivity.
2. Visual & Screen Reader Navigation (VoiceOver)
For users with low vision, legal blindness, or screen reader preferences, Tinnitus Sync offers tailored descriptive speech for custom audio environments:
- Interactive Match Sliders: In the Matching tab, your custom pitches are not read as unhelpful numbers. VoiceOver explicitly parses settings, announcing parameters like: "[Profile Name], 8600 Hertz at 30 percent volume. Spread is 50 percent, Lateralization is Center."
- Dynamic Time Controls: Configuration options provide detailed feedback regarding interval limits, interactive steppers, and custom training parameters.
- Clean Session Tracking: In the active Training view, the circular countdown progress indicator bypasses redundant graphical elements to cleanly announce countdown metrics (e.g., "Time remaining: 9 minutes and 42 seconds").
3. Auditory Accessibility & Customization
Because tinnitus sounds are unique and changing, our audio graph structure relies on highly isolated controls to protect your hearing comfort:
- Concurrent Frequency Profiles: Users experiencing polyphonic tinnitus can create, rename, and run multiple sound profiles concurrently to safely replicate separate audio frequencies.
- Digital Proportional Ceiling: To eliminate risky auditory spikes or audio clipping when combining profiles, our engine maintains a strict master headroom buffer (capping the combined digital graph ceiling at an automated scale factor of 0.95).
- Shared Audio Session: The app cleanly respects system level parameters and plays audio concurrently with other applications using the standard background playback category.
4. Physical, Haptic, and Motor Support
For users managing fine motor tremors, limited physical dexterity, or sensory processing differences, Tinnitus Sync utilizes deep physical haptic responses:
- Bimodal Sensory Output: The app mirrors headphone audio playback with perfectly timed physical rumbles on your Apple Watch or iPhone. The system utilizes low-frequency sustained rumbles (0.3 sharpness) paired with physical transient "thuds" (0.1 sharpness) to pass legibly through lightweight clothing, body context, or hands.
- Headphone Latency Compensation: Wireless headphones introduce distinct signal delays. The Settings panel provides an adjustable Latency Offset slider (in granular 0.05-second steps) to manually synchronize the sound in your ears perfectly with device haptics.
- Contextual Swipe Help: Custom components include accessibility instructions, informing VoiceOver users how to cleanly step values up or down (e.g., "Swipe up to increase offset if the tap is too early. Swipe down to decrease offset if the tap is too late.").
5. Current Technical Limitations
While we strive for global accessibility compatibility, our onboarding setup contains a specific localized security hurdle:
- Terms and Conditions Scroll Verification: To fulfill legal validation rules, the app disables the acceptance action until a user reads through the final contract layer. VoiceOver Optimization: If the app detects that an integrated screen reader is running, this scrolling validation constraint is automatically bypassed to prevent blind or low-vision users from getting trapped in the layout loop.
6. Help and Open Feedback Loops
Accessibility optimization is an ongoing, collaborative journey. If you uncover an unlabelled control button, discover a touch target that is too small, or want to suggest alternative tracking models, please let us know:
- In-App Form Submission: Navigate to the Settings inside the App and tap the feedback text to access our secure feedback form.
- General Inquiries: If a layout issue blocks you from properly launching your training profile, let us know your specific iPhone or Apple Watch hardware profile, and we will update it in an upcoming patch.