Ear-Level Hearing Device with Smartphone-Based Threshold Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional assistive listening devices face challenges in accurately determining auditory thresholds and customizing amplification due to inconsistencies in patient perception, equipment calibration, and subjective measurements, making it difficult for hearing professionals to provide effective hearing aid fittings.
Innovation Solution
A self-administered hearing system that uses a smartphone or PDA with a connected ear-level device to measure an individual's auditory thresholds by adjusting frequency-specific tones and amplitudes, allowing users to record their softest audible sounds, and translating these data into a customized sound processing scheme for the hearing aid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional audiometry is administered by a specialist to determine auditory thresholds, then measurement can be performed with professional equipment, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming with inconsistent results due to patient perception variability and equipment calibration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to perform their own auditory threshold testing at home using a smartphone application. The patient independently completes the audiometry process by responding to tone presentations through the ear-level device, eliminating the need for a specialist to administer the test while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated processing and validation algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex professional audiometry equipment with a smartphone-based system. The smartphone's processor and software algorithms substitute for traditional audiometry machines, performing tone generation, level adjustment, and threshold determination through digital signal processing and automated data analysis.
2Measurement precision
If a probe microphone is placed into the ear for direct observation of sound pressure level in real ear testing, then objective measurement can be obtained, but the measurement becomes inconsistent due to difficulties with hearing instrument placement, probe microphone position, and calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs real ear measurements through the ear-level device's built-in transducer and microphone, eliminating the need for a specialist to manually place and calibrate external probe microphones. The device self-calibrates and automatically adjusts for placement variations, allowing patients to perform measurements independently at home.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the measurement function from external probe microphones and integrates it directly into the ear-level device. By incorporating the measurement capability within the device itself, the system eliminates the need for separate calibration equipment and complex positioning procedures, simplifying the entire measurement process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hearing professionals manually record threshold data and recommend amplification settings, then customization can be performed based on patient needs, but the process is confounded by patient perception inconsistencies and unrealistic patient expectations
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes patient responses during testing and uses algorithms to determine optimal amplification settings. The smartphone application provides real-time feedback to the patient about their hearing thresholds and adjusts recommendations based on objective measurement data, eliminating inconsistencies from manual interpretation and ensuring consistent, evidence-based customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the specialist's manual data recording and recommendation process with automated software algorithms. The system objectively processes threshold measurements and automatically generates amplification recommendations, eliminating variability from human perception and expectation while maintaining personalized customization based on each patient's specific hearing needs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If countless formulae are used to customize the acoustical needs of the patient, then comprehensive coverage of hearing scenarios can be achieved, but the programming becomes daunting and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically selects and applies appropriate acoustic customization formulae based on the patient's measured hearing thresholds. The smartphone application contains multiple built-in algorithms that are automatically chosen and executed based on the specific testing results, eliminating the need for specialists to manually select and program complex formulae while still providing comprehensive acoustic customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-programs multiple acoustic customization formulae into the smartphone application before use. These algorithms are prepared in advance and automatically applied based on the patient's test results, eliminating the need for complex programming decisions during the fitting process while ensuring comprehensive coverage of different hearing scenarios.
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
This system enables direct, objective measurement of hearing thresholds, reducing reliance on traditional audiometry and providing personalized amplification, improving the accuracy and ease of hearing aid fitting by using user-specific data to prescribe appropriate sound pressure levels.
Implementation Method 1
an ear-level hearing device with an electro-acoustic transducer communicating with an ear canal of a subject, which transducer is driven by programmable sound processing means
Data Source
AI summary
An ear-level hearing device and a handheld computer with a graphical user interface determines a subject's own hearing threshold. Hardware includes the smartphone, viewing screen of the smartphone, smartphone software, ear level hearing device, transmitter on the smartphone and receiver on the ear level device (ELD) communicating with the graphical user interface on the smartphone to the ear level hearing device. The interface on the smartphone may include an automatic routine or buttons to vary frequency and amplitude of a frequency dependent sound presentation to the earpiece. Software installed on the hand-held smartphone system sends wireless signals to the ELD changing acoustic parameters in the listening device. The ELD stores frequency/amplitude parameters of the thresholds and wirelessly delivers them to the smartphone. The smartphone uses the threshold data to derive the appropriate amplified acoustical signal (relative to the thresholds) to the subject.