Bimodal Hearing Aid Automatic Parameter Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bimodal hearing assistance systems require multiple fitting sessions for acclimatization, leading to suboptimal hearing performance and increased effort for both patients and clinics due to the need for repeated adjustments during the acclimatization period.
Innovation Solution
A hearing assistance system that automatically adjusts at least one audio signal processing parameter over time, such as gain or compression ratio, to achieve optimal fitting without the need for repeated sessions, by changing the parameter from an initial to a target value as a function of time since the first activation, thereby reducing the need for multiple fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic stimulation is added to electrical stimulation in bimodal hearing systems, then hearing performance is improved, but multiple repeated fitting sessions are required causing increased effort and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically adjusting acoustic stimulation parameters during an acclimatization period before final fitting is completed. The hearing aid gradually increases gain and modifies compression characteristics over time, allowing the patient's auditory system to adapt to combined electrical and acoustic stimulation without requiring multiple manual fitting sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting parameters are made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically modifies gain, compression ratio, and other audio signal processing parameters as a function of time during the acclimatization period. This dynamic adjustment allows the hearing device to adapt to the patient's changing auditory perception as they become accustomed to bimodal stimulation.
2Reliability
If acoustic amplification is increased to achieve optimal hearing performance, then sound quality improves, but the patient becomes overwhelmed during the acclimatization period requiring repeated fitting adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares the patient's auditory system for full acoustic amplification by gradually introducing and increasing acoustic stimulation during the acclimatization period. This preliminary gradual exposure prevents overwhelming the patient while still providing beneficial bimodal stimulation, eliminating the need for repeated fitting sessions to manage discomfort or overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically changes key audio signal processing parameters including gain, compression ratio, and bandwidth as a function of time during acclimatization. These parameter changes are designed to gradually increase acoustic stimulation to optimal levels while maintaining patient comfort, thereby improving sound quality without requiring manual intervention for adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If the acclimatization period is extended to allow proper adaptation, then optimal fitting is achieved, but the duration of time without optimal hearing performance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic adjustments during the acclimatization period that continuously optimize fitting parameters based on the patient's adaptation progress. This allows the system to achieve optimal fitting precision more quickly than traditional manual methods, reducing the overall acclimatization duration while maintaining high fitting quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid system performs self-adjustment of fitting parameters during acclimatization without requiring external intervention from audiologists or clinicians. The automatic modification of gain, compression, and other parameters based on time-dependent algorithms enables the system to achieve optimal fitting independently, reducing both time and resource requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a hearing assistance system comprising an auditory prosthesis device (10) for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing at one of the patient's ears and a hearing aid (21) for acoustic stimulation of the patient's hearing at the same one or the other one of the patient's ears, the system including means (20) for providing an input audio signal; the auditory prosthesis device comprising a sound processor (24) for generating a neural stimulation signal from at least part of the input audio signal, and an implantable stimulation assembly (12, 14, 19) for stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the neural stimulation signal; the hearing aid comprising: an audio signal processing unit (27) for processing at least part of the input audio signal, an acoustic output transducer (23) for stimulating the patient's hearing according to the processed audio signals, and a control unit (62) for controlling the audio signal processing unit, the control unit being adapted to control at least one parameter used in the processing of the input audio signal such that, during an adjustment period, the value of the at least one parameter is automatically changed from a first value to a second value as a function of the time having passed since a reference point in time.