EEG-Based Speech Intelligibility Assessment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current speech sound intelligibility assessment methods for hearing aid fitting require cumbersome user input, such as oral or written responses, which are time-consuming and burdensome, especially for individuals with hypacusia or the elderly, and may lead to incorrect evaluations due to input errors.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements to detect event-related potentials, specifically a characteristic component at 800 ms ± 100 ms after audio presentation, to determine whether a user has comprehended a speech sound, eliminating the need for user input and reducing evaluator burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional speech sound intelligibility assessment methods using oral or written responses are used, then evaluation can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and burdensome for users with hypacusia or the elderly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical response system (oral or written answers requiring user physical action) with a physiological signal detection system (EEG electrodes detecting electrical brain activity). This substitution eliminates the need for users to physically respond, thereby reducing time loss and burden while maintaining or improving assessment accuracy through objective neural measurement.
2Measurement precision
If oral or written responses are required from users, then speech sound intelligibility can be evaluated, but the complexity of the assessment procedure increases and user burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical interaction system (presenting sounds, collecting oral/written responses, manually evaluating answers) with an automated physiological detection system. EEG electrodes directly measure brain electrical activity related to speech comprehension, and the system automatically processes these signals to determine intelligibility, thereby reducing procedural complexity while maintaining evaluation accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If user input is required for assessment, then intelligibility can be measured, but the reliability decreases due to potential input errors from users with hypacusia or the elderly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable user input mechanism (oral or written responses that may contain errors due to hearing loss, cognitive decline, or motor difficulties) with a reliable physiological measurement system. EEG electrodes objectively detect neural electrical activity patterns associated with speech sound comprehension, eliminating subjective errors and significantly improving assessment reliability.
4Measurement precision
If conventional assessment methods are used, then speech intelligibility can be evaluated, but the evaluator burden increases due to manual matching of answers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual evaluation process (evaluators listening to recorded answers and manually matching them against stimulus sounds) with an automated signal processing system. The system electronically processes EEG signals, automatically identifies comprehension-related neural patterns, and determines intelligibility results, thereby eliminating manual labor and significantly improving evaluator productivity.
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 approach allows for a quantitative and automatic evaluation of speech sound intelligibility, reducing the burden on both users and evaluators and providing accurate assessments without the need for cumbersome input procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a user
Implementation Method 2
a characteristic component detection section for utilizing the electroencephalogram signal of a user measured by the biological signal measurement section to determine presence or absence of a characteristic component of an event-related potential at 800 ms±100 ms from a point of presenting the audio
Data Source
AI summary
A speech sound intelligibility assessment system includes: a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a user; a presented-speech sound control section for determining a speech sound to be presented by referring to a speech sound database retaining a plurality of monosyllabic speech sounds; an audio output section for presenting the speech sound determined by the presented-speech sound control section as an audio; a characteristic component detection section for utilizing the electroencephalogram signal of the user measured by the biological signal measurement section to determine presence or absence of a characteristic component of an event-related potential at 800 ms±100 ms from a point of presenting the audio; and a speech sound intelligibility assessment section for, based on a result of determination by the characteristic component detection section, determining whether the user has aurally comprehended the speech sound or not.