Binaural Hearing Self-Fitting Through Head-Movement Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-fitting methods for binaural hearing systems often fail to preserve the user's spatial sound identification ability, leading to potential deterioration due to inappropriate fitting configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a motion sensor in a binaural hearing system to monitor and optimize fitting configurations by measuring head movements in response to spatial sound stimuli, adjusting parameters like wide dynamic range compression and beamformer patterns to maintain or enhance spatial sound identification and segregation abilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If self-fitting methods adjust hearing device parameters without professional intervention, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but spatial sound identification ability may deteriorate due to inappropriate fitting configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors head movement responses to spatial sound stimuli and uses this feedback to assess whether the current fitting configuration preserves spatial sound identification ability. The feedback loop allows the system to automatically adjust parameters or alert the user when spatial perception deteriorates, enabling safe self-fitting without professional intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing device performs self-assessment of fitting quality by autonomously presenting spatial sound stimuli, measuring head movement responses via motion sensors, and evaluating whether spatial sound identification ability is preserved. This self-service capability enables users to safely adjust or maintain their own fitting configurations without requiring external professional evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If motion sensors and spatial stimuli are used to assess fitting quality, then measurement precision of spatial sound identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor serves multiple functions: it tracks head movements for spatial sound identification assessment, monitors user interactions with the device, and provides data for fitting optimization. By making the motion sensor multi-functional, the system achieves precise spatial assessment without adding dedicated complex measurement hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own head movement responses as the measurement tool, eliminating the need for external measurement equipment or professional assessment tools. The hearing device itself presents stimuli and measures responses, creating a self-contained assessment system that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Preserves and optimizes the user's spatial sound identification and segregation capabilities by iteratively adjusting fitting parameters based on head movement measurements, ensuring effective self-fitting without requiring visual interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a motion sensor (e.g. accelerometer, gyroscope) in the binaural hearing system to monitor a user's ability of spatial sound identification
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method of self-fitting of a binaural hearing system (10) worn by a user (12), comprising at least one motion sensor (28, 38), a first hearing device (20) including a first output transducer (22) for stimulating a first ear of the user, and a second hearing device (30) including a second output transducer (32) for stimulating a second ear of the user the binaural hearing system (10). The method comprises: implementing a present fitting configuration in the binaural hearing system; generating a spatialized binaural audio signal representative of a virtual auditory scene including at least a first audio source (14) at a given angular position relative to the user; reproducing the spatialized binaural audio signal via the binaural hearing system to the user; instructing the user to turn the head towards the first audio source; measuring the respective head movement of the user via the at least one motion sensor; estimating from the measured head movement the user's ability of spatial sound identification with the present fitting configuration of the binaural hearing system; and maintaining or modifying the present fitting configuration based on the estimated user's ability of spatial sound identification.