Hearing Aid Adjustment Using Stored Real-World Audio Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid wearers lack the ability to adjust transmission characteristics to their specific needs without professional assistance due to the complexity and range of parameters, which can only be viewed by trained specialists, limiting their ability to objectively assess and adjust their hearing situation.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid system with a storage device for test audio data representing various hearing situations, allowing the wearer to adjust the hearing aid using a remote control, with test audio data being output and settings stored for specific classes of hearing situations, enabling real-life signal adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If synthetic test signals are used for hearing aid adjustment, then the adjustment process can be carried out independently, but the settings can be implemented only approximately because natural hearing situations differ from synthetic test signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses recorded real hearing situations as test signals instead of synthetic signals. The storage device stores actual audio recordings from various hearing situations (conversation, traffic, nature, music) that are then played back through the hearing aid during adjustment. This copying of real situations provides both independent adjustment capability and accurate representation of natural hearing environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hearing aid wearer adjusts the hearing aid himself, then adjustment can be done at any time without professional assistance, but the complexity and range of parameters make it difficult to objectively assess the hearing situation
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid wearer independently performs the adjustment process without requiring an acoustician. The device provides self-service functionality by storing multiple pre-recorded hearing situations, automatically presenting them through the signal processing device, and allowing the user to adjust parameters based on their subjective assessment of each situation. The control device enables the user to navigate through different recorded situations and modify settings as needed.
3Ease of operation
If only volume adjustment is provided, then the device remains simple to operate, but the hearing aid wearer cannot make precise adjustments to transmission characteristics for different hearing situations
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing device allows dynamic adjustment of multiple transmission characteristics including volume, frequency response, and other hearing aid parameters. The control device enables the wearer to modify these parameters in real-time while listening to recorded hearing situations, providing both operational simplicity through intuitive controls and comprehensive adaptability across different hearing scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing aid and appertaining method of adjustment permit adjusting a hearing aid more conveniently and more specifically. For this purpose, parameters for real hearing situations are stored in a storage device in the hearing aid or in the remote control for an adjustment procedure by the hearing aid wearer him- or herself. These hearing examples are then reproduced to the hearing aid wearer for the adjustment procedure. The hearing aid wearer therefore does not have to wait for a corresponding hearing situation in his surrounding area for the adjustment process and can repeat the adjustment process as required.