Hearing Aid Fitting via Closed-Loop Language-Based Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches to hearing aid fitting often fail to adequately address hearing impairments, particularly in cases where patients need adjustments for different environments or cannot access audiologists, leading to continued hearing loss and acoustic discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods for hearing aid fitting that allow for Over The Counter (OTC) hearing aids to be fitted effectively without the need for an audiologist, using closed-loop language-based fitting (CLBFit) and vector quantization of hearing loss characteristics to optimize sound processing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional approaches to hearing aid fitting are used, then hearing aids can be provided to patients, but patients continue to suffer from hearing loss and acoustic discomfort due to inadequate fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements closed-loop language-based fitting (CLBFit) where the system presents language stimuli to the patient, records their responses, and uses this feedback to iteratively optimize hearing aid parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures the fitting process adapts to the patient's actual hearing capabilities rather than relying solely on prescriptive algorithms, thereby improving both reliability and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables patients to actively participate in the fitting process by providing language-based responses, making them co-operators in optimizing their own hearing aid settings. This self-service approach allows patients to contribute directly to the fitting effectiveness while reducing the time and resources required from audiologists.
2Reliability
If audiologists provide hearing aid fitting, then hearing limitations can be addressed, but costs and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated fitting using closed-loop language-based fitting before the patient meets with an audiologist. This preliminary action pre-optimizes hearing aid parameters based on the patient's language responses, reducing the time and complexity of the subsequent audiologist appointment while maintaining fitting quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/manual fitting process performed by audiologists with an automated computer-based system that uses language processing and iterative optimization algorithms. This substitution significantly reduces the time required for fitting while maintaining or improving fitting quality through systematic parameter optimization.
3Ease of operation
If conventional OTC hearing aids are used, then patients can self-treat, but hearing-impaired patients with complex needs cannot receive adequate care
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to self-administer a comprehensive language-based fitting process that was previously only available through audiologists. Patients can provide language responses, receive real-time feedback, and have their hearing aid parameters optimized automatically, making professional-grade fitting accessible as a self-service solution for OTC hearing aids.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple hearing aid parameters based on the patient's language responses and performance metrics. By continuously optimizing parameters such as gain, compression, and frequency response based on actual patient feedback rather than static prescriptions, the system effectively handles complex hearing impairments that were previously requiring audiologist intervention.
4Device complexity
If hearing aid parameters are fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but patients need adjustments for different environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic parameter adjustment where hearing aid settings are no longer fixed but continuously adapted based on the patient's performance in different environments and conditions. The closed-loop system monitors patient responses and automatically modifies parameters to optimize performance across varying acoustic environments, making the hearing aid versatile without requiring complex manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for configuring a hearing aid device may include automatically: selecting a sound file from a sound database, processing the sound file with a first set of parameter settings to generate two distinct coarse stimuli, playing the two distinct coarse stimuli to a user, recording a preferred coarse setting by the user, processing the sound file with a second set of parameter settings to generate two distinct shape stimuli, playing the two distinct shape stimuli to the user, recording a preferred shape setting by the user, processing the sound file with a third set of parameter settings to generate two distinct fine resolution stimuli, playing the two distinct fine resolution stimuli to the user, recording a preferred fine resolution setting by the user, and determining hearing aid parameter settings for the user based on the fine resolution setting.