Hearing Aid Acoustic Reflectance Auto-Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The fitting process for hearing aids is complex and costly, often requiring extensive training and resulting in high return rates due to unsuccessful fittings, which increases costs and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for automatically adjusting hearing aids based on acoustic reflectance, measuring incident and reflected waves, processing this information to determine reflectance slopes or components, and adjusting hearing aid parameters accordingly, allowing for in-situ fitting without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual fitting process by audiologist is used, then fitting quality can be maintained through expert judgment, but fitting cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid system performs self-fitting by automatically measuring acoustic reflectance, determining ear canal acoustic impedance, and adjusting its own operating parameters without requiring manual intervention by an audiologist. The system serves itself by integrating the measurement and adjustment functions into the hearing aid device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical fitting process with an automated acoustic measurement and control system. Acoustic reflectance measurements are used to automatically determine fitting parameters, substituting the audiologist's expert judgment with an objective acoustic-based automated system.
2Measurement precision
If extensive training for audiologists is provided, then fitting expertise is improved, but training cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid system performs self-fitting by automatically measuring acoustic reflectance, determining ear canal acoustic impedance, and adjusting its own operating parameters without requiring manual intervention by an audiologist. The system serves itself by integrating the measurement and adjustment functions into the hearing aid device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical fitting process with an automated acoustic measurement and control system. Acoustic reflectance measurements are used to automatically determine fitting parameters, substituting the audiologist's expert judgment with an objective acoustic-based automated system.
3Ease of operation
If traditional fitting methods are used, then fitting process is straightforward, but return rate increases due to unsuccessful fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures acoustic reflectance from the ear canal and uses this feedback to automatically adjust hearing aid parameters. The measured acoustic reflectance provides real-time feedback about the ear canal's acoustic impedance, enabling the system to optimize its operation for that specific ear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical fitting process with an automated acoustic measurement and control system. Acoustic reflectance measurements are used to automatically determine fitting parameters, substituting the audiologist's expert judgment with an objective acoustic-based automated system.
4Productivity
If automated adjustment is implemented, then fitting cost and time are reduced, but measurement and control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid device integrates multiple functions: it serves as both the acoustic stimulus source and the acoustic reflectance measurement device. The same speaker and microphone used for hearing assistance are also used for measuring acoustic reflectance, eliminating the need for separate specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid system performs self-fitting by automatically measuring acoustic reflectance, determining ear canal acoustic impedance, and adjusting its own operating parameters without requiring manual intervention by an audiologist. The system serves itself by integrating the measurement and adjustment functions into the hearing aid device itself.
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 reduces the need for extensive audiologist intervention, lowers fitting costs, improves fitting quality, and enhances hearing aid efficiency by automatically adjusting compression parameters and frequency-dependent gain, while also monitoring ear changes and reducing standing waves and feedback issues.
Implementation Method 1
measuring an acoustic reflectance associated with an ear canal as a function of an incident pressure and an acoustic frequency
Data Source
AI summary
Method and system for automatically adjusting a hearing aid. The method includes measuring an acoustic reflectance associated with an ear canal as a function of an incident pressure and an acoustic frequency, processing information associated with the measured acoustic reflectance, determining a reflectance slope based on, at least, information associated with the measured acoustic reflectance, and adjusting, at least, one parameter associated with the hearing aid based on, at least, information associated with the reflectance slope. The reflectance slope is associated with a reflectance component varying with the incident pressure.