Hearing Device ANC Fitting for Speech Recognition Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices, particularly for users with hidden hearing loss, often fail to optimize settings for improved speech recognition and reduced environmental awareness, leading to issues like the Lombard effect and inadequate sound level adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines an optimal active noise cancellation (ANC) strength by presenting audio prompts at varying levels during a fitting session, assessing speech recognition, and adjusting settings to balance speech recognition and environmental awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active noise cancellation strength is increased to improve speech recognition, then speech recognition is improved, but environmental awareness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ANC strength based on the user's speech recognition performance and environmental awareness requirements. The processor modifies the ANC strength parameter in real-time during the fitting session, transitioning from a static setting to a dynamic adaptation process that optimizes both speech recognition and environmental awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ANC strength parameter based on measured speech recognition levels and user feedback. By adjusting this key parameter during the fitting session, the system optimizes the balance between speech recognition improvement and maintaining environmental awareness, resolving the contradiction through parameter optimization.
2Measurement precision
If sound level is reduced to improve speech recognition in noise, then speech recognition is improved, but the Lombard effect increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from speech recognition level measurements to adjust sound levels and ANC strength. By continuously monitoring speech recognition performance and user responses, the processor adjusts parameters to improve speech recognition while preventing excessive sound level reduction that would trigger the Lombard effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively adjusting sound levels and ANC strength to prevent the Lombard effect before it occurs. During the fitting session, the system proactively optimizes parameters to avoid the harmful feedback loop where reduced sound levels cause users to speak softer, which then requires even further reduction.
3Ease of operation
If self-fitting is enabled to improve ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but optimization for all hearing profiles is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service fitting where users can perform their own fitting sessions using the audio prompt system. The processor guides users through the process automatically, allowing them to adjust settings without requiring a hearing care professional, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining optimization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming multiple audio prompts at different presentation levels and ANC strengths. During self-fitting, users sequentially evaluate these pre-prepared prompts, and the processor automatically determines optimal settings based on user responses, enabling comprehensive optimization without professional intervention.
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
Improves hearing device fitting by optimizing ANC strength for enhanced speech recognition and reduced Lombard effect, ensuring appropriate sound levels in different environments.
Implementation Method 1
determining a speech recognition level for each audio prompt of the plurality of audio prompts; and setting a particular active noise canceling (ANC) strength for use in a normal operation mode
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes a hearing system directing, during a fitting session during which the hearing system operates in accordance with a fitting mode, the hearing system to provide to the user a plurality of audio prompts at a plurality of different presentation levels, determining, for the plurality of audio prompts, a plurality of speech recognition levels, each speech recognition level of the plurality of speech recognition levels corresponding to a respective presentation level of the plurality of different presentation levels, and setting, based on the plurality of speech recognition levels, a particular active noise canceling (ANC) strength for use in a normal operation mode of the hearing system subsequent to the fitting session for the user.