Hearing Aid Vent Fitting for Noise Reduction Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing device fitting processes often fail to optimize initial sound processing settings for individual user needs, particularly due to inadequate consideration of vent size and its impact on acoustic coupling.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fitting software that calculates and adjusts sound enhancement settings based on the vent cut-off frequency, using a strength value to automatically optimize noise reduction and speech enhancement, incorporating a deep neural network (DNN) model for improved signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If noise reduction routines are applied to improve speech intelligibility, then noise is reduced, but at poor signal-to-noise ratios the routines may corrupt and suppress the target audio signal
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the strength value of noise reduction processing based on the vent cut-off frequency parameter. By changing the processing strength parameter according to the acoustic coupling characteristics, the system optimizes the balance between noise reduction effectiveness and preservation of target audio signals, preventing corruption at poor signal-to-noise ratios.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed acoustic coupling is used to improve sound processing, then noise reduction is enhanced, but direct sound from the environment reaches the ear drum and can mask the processed audio signal
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the acoustic coupling parameter (vent size/cut-off frequency) to optimize the balance between noise reduction benefits and direct sound isolation. By adjusting this physical parameter, the system controls the vent mass and cut-off frequency to prevent environmental sounds from masking the processed audio signal while maintaining effective noise reduction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vent size is increased to improve acoustic coupling, then noise reduction is enhanced, but the vent cut-off frequency increases and direct sound reaches the ear drum
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the vent size parameter to achieve the desired vent cut-off frequency. By carefully controlling this physical parameter, the system ensures that the vent mass and cut-off frequency are appropriately balanced to provide effective noise reduction while preventing excessive direct sound transmission that would mask processed audio signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for fitting a hearing device (20) to an end user, wherein the hearing device (20) has as a vent, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) Providing a hearing device (20) having a first sound enhancement setting; b) Providing a fitting software (12), c) Feeding (23) a vent cut-off frequency value of the hearing device (20) to the fitting software (12), d) Calculating (24) a strength value (sv) based on the vent cut-off frequency value, e) Calculating (25, 26) a second sound enhancement setting based on that strength value, f) Replacing (27) the first sound enhancement setting in the fitting software by the second sound enhancement setting, g) Establishing (28) a new set of hearing device settings for the hearing device (20), and h) Transmitting (29) said new set of hearing device settings to the hearing device (20).