Hearing Aid Real Ear Response Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing aid fitting methods require time-consuming and cumbersome procedures involving probe tubes to measure real ear response, which are not practical for routine clinical use and introduce inaccuracies due to individual ear variations.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine real ear response without probe tubes by modeling the earpiece as a high impedance source driving a short tube with a hard termination, using sound pressure measurements at the earpiece and a reference tube to estimate sound pressure at the eardrum, allowing for improved precision in hearing aid fitting without additional effort from the fitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a probe microphone tube is inserted to measure sound pressure near the eardrum, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the time-consuming and cumbersome procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the complex probe tube insertion procedure by using the hearing aid's own built-in microphone to measure sound pressure at the earpiece, eliminating the need for separate probe tube equipment and simplifying the fitting procedure while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid's microphone is made multi-functional by using it both for its primary hearing aid function and for measuring sound pressure at the earpiece during fitting, eliminating the need for separate measurement equipment and reducing procedure complexity
2Measurement precision
If a probe microphone tube is inserted to measure sound pressure near the eardrum, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the time-consuming procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by using the hearing aid's own microphone to measure sound pressure at the earpiece before final fitting adjustments, allowing for quick real ear response determination without the time-consuming probe tube insertion and removal process
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid performs self-measurement using its own built-in microphone to determine sound pressure at the earpiece, eliminating the need for external measurement equipment and reducing the time required for fitting procedures
3Measurement precision
If a probe microphone tube is inserted to measure sound pressure near the eardrum, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential leakage and unrealistic venting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the probe tube from the measurement system entirely and uses the hearing aid's own microphone to measure sound pressure at the earpiece, eliminating the source of leakage and venting errors that compromise measurement reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the hearing aid's existing microphone as a substitute for the probe tube microphone, creating a functional copy that measures sound pressure without introducing the leakage and venting problems associated with physical probe tube insertion
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 method enables precise hearing aid fitting with reduced effort and error, allowing for accurate real ear response measurement and improved hearing aid performance by incorporating the real ear response into the fitting process, reducing the need for complex calibration and post-processing.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical-acoustical output transducer adapted for directing sound towards a eardrum
Implementation Method 2
an acoustical-electrical input transducer adapted for measuring a sound pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method of fitting a hearing aid comprising estimating a real ear response is disclosed. An earpiece (100) is used, the earpiece (100) comprising an output transducer (102) and an input transducer (101) both facing the eardrum when the earpiece (100) is inserted into an ear canal. The earpiece (100) is connected to a sound conduit (200) to measure a first sound pressure inside the sound conduit (200) as a response to a test sound generated by the output transducer (102). The earpiece (100) is inserted into an ear canal to measure a second sound pressure inside the ear canal using the same test sound. The first and second sound pressures and the dimensions of the sound conduit are used to calculate an estimate of the sound pressure at the eardrum, thus determining the real ear response to the test sound. A corresponding hearing aid is also disclosed.