Hearing Aid State Transmission for Remote Audiologist Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
In developing countries, the ratio of hearing aid users to audiologists is high, leading to inefficiencies in hearing aid adjustments, as medical-technical staff without special training often perform adjustments without access to real-time audiologist support, and delays occur when audiologists must leave for other appointments.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting the processing status of an audiological adjustment application for a hearing device by storing biological and audiometric data in a central memory, allowing for decoding and reloading at a different location, enabling continued adjustment and support from trained audiologists without pausing the fitting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If medical-technical staff without special audiological training perform hearing aid adjustments, then the basic usability of the hearing device can be improved, but the accuracy and quality of the adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (remote communication connection between the hearing aid device and external devices) that enables medical-technical staff to access audiologist expertise remotely. This mediator allows untrained staff to perform adjustments with the support of trained audiologists, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adjustment accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If an audiologist visits a medical care station for hearing aid adjustments, then the quality of adjustment is improved, but delays occur when the audiologist must leave for other appointments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables copying of the adjustment process and data between devices. The hearing aid device can transmit its current state and data to remote devices, allowing audiologists to continue adjustments from different locations without physical presence. This eliminates delays when audiologists need to leave appointments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically transmitting hearing aid data and adjustment state to remote devices before the audiologist needs to leave. This prepares the continuation of work in advance, eliminating waiting time and delays in the adjustment process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the fitting of the hearing aid is paused until an audiologist can visit, then the accuracy of adjustment is improved, but the efficiency of the process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by enabling the hearing aid fitting process to continue without interruption. Data and adjustment state are transmitted remotely, allowing the fitting process to proceed continuously even when the audiologist is not physically present, thus maintaining both accuracy and efficiency.
4Reliability
If audiometric data and processing status are stored locally in the hearing aid device, then data security is improved, but accessibility by remote audiologists deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension to data storage and access by implementing both local storage (in the hearing aid device) and remote accessibility (via communication connections to external devices). This multi-dimensional approach maintains data security through local storage while enabling remote audiologists to access and continue adjustments from different locations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for transmitting a processing state (1) in an audiological adaptation application (2) for a hearing device (4), wherein biological and/or audiometric data (20) of a user (14) of the hearing device (4) is transmitted in the form of input values of the audiological adaptation application (2) to a central storage device (24) and stored there in a typified manner into a plurality of processing groups. First information on the identity of the user (14) together with second information on at least one first processing mode (50) is coded at a first point in time (t1) in a first user region (6), wherein the first processing mode (50) corresponds to a processing, which is active at a specified point in time, of data of the first processing group by means of the audiological adaptation application (2), and first and second information coded at the first point in time (t1) is decoded at a second point in time (t2). The biological and/or audiometric data (20) of the user (14) at least from the first processing group is loaded from the central storage device (24) onto the audiological adaptation application (2), and the audiological adaptation application (2) processing state (1) present at the first point in time (t1) with respect to the hearing device (4) is produced using the decoded first and second information in that the biological and/or audiometric data (20) of the user (14) from the first processing group is provided at least in the first processing mode (50).