Hearing Aid Fitting via Representative Audiogram Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of programming hearing aid devices for individual users is resource-intensive and time-consuming due to the need for personalized audiogram measurements, which can be similar in nature for many individuals, leading to inefficiencies in fitting and adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that collects and organizes multiple audiograms, creates representative audiograms based on similarities, and computes hearing enhancement fittings, which can be programmed into hearing aid devices, reducing the need for extensive individual testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individualized audiogram measurements are performed for each user, then hearing aid fitting precision is improved, but time consumption and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates representative audiograms that serve as templates or copies for groups of users with similar hearing characteristics. Instead of performing complete individualized measurements for every user, the system uses these representative copies to provide initial fitting prescriptions, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining adequate fitting precision for many users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the population of hearing aid users into distinct groups based on similar audiogram characteristics. By dividing users into segments with comparable hearing profiles, the system can apply group-based representative audiograms to multiple individuals simultaneously, reducing overall measurement time while preserving individualized precision within each segment.
2Measurement precision
If complete individualized audiogram measurements are performed, then fitting accuracy is improved, but resource requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual audiograms into a single representative audiogram for each user group. By combining and averaging the hearing threshold data from multiple individuals with similar characteristics, the system creates a consolidated representative profile that captures the essential features of the group, thereby reducing resource requirements while maintaining fitting accuracy through the merged data.
3Productivity
If representative audiograms are used for multiple users, then productivity is improved, but individualization level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system where representative audiograms serve as adaptable templates that can be selectively applied to different user groups. The system allows for dynamic adjustment between using representative audiograms for efficiency and performing individualized measurements when needed, thereby maintaining productivity while preserving the ability to customize the level of individualization based on specific user requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for obtaining hearing enhancement fittings for a hearing aid device is described. A plurality of audiograms is collected. The plurality of audiograms is divided into one or more sets of audiograms. A representative audiogram is created for each set of audiograms. A hearing enhancement fitting is computed from each representative audiogram. A hearing aid device is programmed with one or more hearing enhancement fittings computed from each representative audiogram.