Hearing Aid Noise Reduction via Level-Dependent Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional noise reduction methods in hearing aid devices often attenuate soft interference signals to below the hearing threshold, making them inaudible and complicating orientation in environments, especially for individuals with significant hearing loss.
Innovation Solution
A method for noise reduction in hearing aid devices that adjusts interference signal attenuation based on input level, allowing interference signals to remain audible by canceling attenuation when they would fall below the hearing threshold, and using frequency-specific processing to optimize noise suppression while considering individual hearing ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional noise reduction methods are used to attenuate interference signals, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved and hearing comfort is increased, but soft interference signals are reduced below the hearing threshold making them inaudible and complicating orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the attenuation factor variable rather than fixed. The attenuation factor is adapted based on the input level of the signal - using higher attenuation for high input levels and lower or no attenuation for low input levels. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain audibility of soft interference signals while still providing noise reduction for louder signals, resolving the contradiction between improving signal-to-noise ratio and preserving information about soft sounds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of attenuation factor based on the input level condition. By monitoring the input level and adjusting the attenuation factor accordingly (higher attenuation for high input levels, lower or zero attenuation for low input levels), the system optimizes both noise reduction effectiveness and preservation of soft interference signals, preventing them from falling below the hearing threshold
2Measurement precision
If interference signals are heavily attenuated to improve speech comprehensibility, then the useful signal becomes more prominent, but usual everyday noises are suppressed making environment orientation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts attenuation based on input level, applying stronger attenuation when speech signals are prominent (high input levels) to improve comprehensibility, while reducing or eliminating attenuation for soft sounds (low input levels) to preserve environmental cues for orientation. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to different listening scenarios automatically
Solution Approach 2:
The attenuation factor parameter is changed according to input level conditions, enabling the system to optimize speech comprehensibility when needed while preserving everyday noises for orientation when those signals are soft, thus resolving the contradiction between these two functional requirements
3Reliability
If maximum noise reduction is applied to achieve the best signal-to-noise ratio, then hearing comfort is improved, but soft signals remain below the hearing threshold and become inaudible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the attenuation parameter based on the input level of signals. For soft signals with low input levels, the attenuation factor is reduced or set to zero, ensuring these signals remain audible and contribute to hearing comfort and environmental awareness. For louder signals, maximum attenuation can be applied to improve signal-to-noise ratio, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving maximum noise reduction and maintaining audibility of soft signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method for noise reduction in a hearing aid device is described, with a signal, which comprises a useful and an interference signal part, being processed in the hearing aid device and with the interference signal part being reduced to the benefit of the useful signal part and with the reduction of the interference signal part being carried out as a function of the input level of the signal, with the interference signal part being more heavily attenuated with a high input level than with a low input level.