Hearing Aid Calibration Using Mobile Hearing Threshold Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for providing hearing aids and other wearable sound modification devices are time-consuming and expensive due to the need for expensive real ear measurement equipment and specialized training.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mobile device to perform hearing tests and calibration processes without the need for expensive equipment, utilizing a standard fitting and real-ear fitting protocol to replicate audiometric testing, enabling individuals to calibrate their devices at home.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real ear measurement equipment is used for hearing aid calibration, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a mobile device to create a simplified copy of the real ear measurement system. The mobile device generates test tones and records user responses, effectively copying the essential functionality of expensive clinical equipment while eliminating complex hardware requirements. This allows accurate hearing threshold measurement without specialized measurement equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic measurement system (real ear measurement equipment with microphones and probes) with an electronic/software-based system. The mobile device uses software to present auditory stimuli and process user responses, substituting complex physical measurement apparatus with computational methods that achieve the same measurement objectives.
2Manufacturing precision
If real ear measurement equipment and specialized training are used, then calibration accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables users to perform their own hearing aid calibration without requiring trained audiologists or complex equipment. The mobile application guides users through the calibration process with simple instructions and automated tone presentation, allowing self-calibration that maintains accuracy while eliminating the need for specialized training and reducing time investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary setup and calibration steps automatically through the mobile application, preparing the hearing aid for optimal performance before the user begins actual use. The automated tone generation and response processing eliminate manual setup time and ensure consistent calibration procedures without requiring user expertise.
3Reliability
If traditional hearing aid fitting procedures are followed, then hearing aid performance is optimized, but accessibility and affordability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes hearing aid calibration universally accessible by using a mobile device that most people already own. The mobile application serves multiple functions: presenting test tones, recording user responses, processing results, and communicating with the hearing aid. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for specialized clinical equipment and makes professional-grade calibration accessible to anyone with a smartphone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized real ear measurement equipment with inexpensive mobile devices that are already widely possessed by the population. The use of off-the-shelf smartphones or tablets eliminates the need for costly clinical equipment, making hearing aid calibration affordable and accessible to a much broader audience while maintaining measurement reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid hearing test and calibration system. An exemplary system includes: a hearing aid that amplifies sound and further plays the amplified sound; and a computing device that communicates with the hearing aid, and performs a fitting process responsive to a user's activation. The fitting process includes: setting a test frequency and a test amplitude; causing the hearing aid to play a sound at the test frequency and the test amplitude; prompting the user to respond as to whether the user is able to hear; and upon a positive or negative response from the user, causing the hearing aid to change the amplitude to calibrate.