EEG-Based Speech Intelligibility Assessment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current speech sound intelligibility assessment methods for hearing aid fitting are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring user input and manual evaluation, which can lead to incorrect assessments and hinder the identification of specific causes of unclearness, particularly for individuals with hypacusia or the elderly.
Innovation Solution
A speech sound intelligibility assessment system that utilizes electroencephalogram signals to measure event-related potentials, determining the presence of positive and negative components within specific time zones to evaluate aural comprehension without requiring user input, and adjusts frequency gains based on the assessment results to improve sound pressure levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional speech sound intelligibility assessment methods are used, then assessment can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring user input and manual evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual behavioral assessment methods with an automated electroencephalogram-based measurement system. The event-related potential measurement automatically detects neural responses to speech sounds, eliminating the need for manual user input and evaluator analysis, thereby dramatically improving assessment efficiency and reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service assessment by automatically measuring and analyzing the user's neural responses without requiring their active participation beyond listening to speech sounds. The evaluation is performed automatically by the system based on the measured brain wave patterns, freeing both users and evaluators from cumbersome manual processes.
2Reliability
If conventional assessment methods requiring user input are used, then assessment can be performed, but correctness may be compromised and burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective user input with objective electroencephalogram measurements. The event-related potential components (P1, N1, P2, N2) provide reliable, quantifiable indicators of speech sound comprehension that are not subject to user error, fatigue, or difficulty in responding, thereby improving assessment accuracy while reducing user burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces the electroencephalogram measurement as an intermediary between the speech sound stimulus and the assessment result. Instead of directly relying on user input, the system measures the user's neural response as an intermediate indicator, which more accurately reflects actual comprehension while requiring minimal user effort.
3Measurement precision
If conventional assessment methods are used, then general intelligibility can be evaluated, but specific causes of unclearness cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the speech sound processing response into distinct event-related potential components (P1, N1, P2, N2) with specific latency ranges. Each component corresponds to different stages of auditory processing and comprehension, allowing precise identification of which processing stage is impaired, thereby providing diagnostic information about specific causes of unclearness that general assessment methods cannot provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures multiple parameters of the event-related potential (latency, amplitude, presence/absence of specific components) across different time zones. By analyzing changes in these parameters, the system can precisely diagnose the specific causes of speech sound intelligibility problems, such as impaired early auditory processing versus later comprehension stages.
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 allows for efficient and accurate assessment of speech sound intelligibility, reducing the burden on both users and evaluators, and enables precise identification of sound pressure issues, facilitating effective hearing aid fitting by automatically adjusting frequency gains for improved conversational clarity.
Implementation Method 1
a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of the user
Data Source
AI summary
The speech sound intelligibility assessment system includes: an output section for presenting a speech sound to a user; a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of the user; a positive component determination section for determining presence/absence of a positive component of an event-related potential in the electroencephalogram signal in a zone from 600 ms to 800 ms from a starting point, which is a point in time at which the output section presents a speech sound; a negative component determination section for determining presence/absence of a negative component of an event-related potential in the electroencephalogram signal in a zone from 100 ms to 300 ms from the same starting point; and an assessment section for evaluating whether the user has clearly aurally comprehended the presented speech sound or not based on the results of determination of presence/absence of the positive and negative components, respectively.