Hearing Aid System with Incremental Frequency Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aids do not effectively address the individual hearing needs of users, particularly in enhancing speech and sound intelligibility across various frequencies and environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for aiding hearing that involves a programming interface to communicate with a device, screening each ear at incrementally selected frequencies between 50Hz and 10,000Hz, and determining preferred hearing ranges for each ear to optimize sound processing and output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hearing aids use fixed sound processing parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to individual hearing needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary hearing screenings and measurements to determine individual hearing thresholds and preferences before actual use. This preliminary characterization enables the hearing aid to automatically adapt to the user's specific hearing needs without requiring complex real-time adjustments or manual programming by audiologists.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid system automatically performs hearing screenings, measures individual hearing thresholds, and configures optimal sound processing parameters without external intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex manual setup while maintaining high adaptability to individual users.
2Measurement precision
If hearing aids implement comprehensive frequency screening, then measurement precision of hearing thresholds is improved, but productivity of the fitting process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic frequency screenings across multiple frequency bands (low, mid, high frequencies) to comprehensively map the user's hearing thresholds. By systematically cycling through different frequencies and using automated measurements, the system achieves high measurement precision while maintaining efficient workflow through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual audiometric testing procedures with automated electronic screening and measurement capabilities. This substitution of automated systems for manual processes enables comprehensive frequency analysis without the time-consuming nature of traditional manual fitting methods.
3Loss of information
If hearing aids process audio signals in real-time with user-specific profiles, then sound intelligibility is improved, but use of energy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies user-specific sound processing parameters selectively to different frequency ranges and audio sources based on the user's measured hearing thresholds. Rather than uniformly processing all sounds, the system focuses computational resources on the specific frequency bands where the user has hearing deficiencies, improving sound intelligibility while reducing overall energy consumption.
4Measurement precision
If hearing aids use incremental frequency screening with re-ranging, then measurement precision of preferred hearing ranges is improved, but loss of time in the screening process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency screening process is segmented into multiple stages: initial broad frequency range screening followed by re-ranging testing at more discrete increments for detected frequencies. This segmentation allows the system to quickly identify general hearing thresholds and then focus detailed measurements only on the specific frequency ranges where hearing loss is detected, achieving high precision without uniformly testing all frequencies at maximum resolution.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for aiding hearing are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system (300), a programming interface (16) is configured to communicate with a device (434). The system (300) screens, via a speaker (340) and a user interface (460) associated with the device (434), a left ear - and separately, a right ear - of a patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard. A frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz is then tested. The system (300) then determines a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range.