Hearing Aid Adjustment via Auditory Sensory Memory Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing aid adjustment methods primarily focus on cochlear functions and neglect higher-level auditory processing, leading to suboptimal adjustments for individuals with hearing losses affecting the auditory cortex.
Innovation Solution
A method that tests and adjusts hearing aids based on the user's auditory sensory memory, considering parameters like interaural time and level differences, pitch, phase, tone, and loudness to account for the entire auditory system from the cochlea to the auditory cortex.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hearing aid adjustment is based solely on cochlear functions (audiograms), then the adjustment process is simple and quick, but the adjustment accuracy and suitability for individual auditory system states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting sensory memory tests before finalizing the hearing aid adjustment. The system performs tests to determine the user's sensory memory characteristics (e.g., ability to perceive temporal patterns, pitch changes, loudness differences) and uses these results to guide the adjustment process, ensuring the adjustment is tailored to the individual's actual auditory processing capabilities rather than relying solely on standard audiograms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the results of sensory memory tests to iteratively refine the hearing aid adjustment. The system evaluates the user's performance on sensory memory tasks and adjusts the hearing aid parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop process that continuously optimizes the adjustment based on actual auditory system response rather than relying on fixed protocols.
2Productivity
If hearing aid adjustment considers only cochlear processing, then the adjustment is faster and less complex, but the ability to perceive sound changes and process auditory information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs sensory memory assessments as a preliminary step before finalizing hearing aid settings. These assessments evaluate higher-level auditory processing capabilities such as temporal pattern recognition, pitch discrimination, and loudness perception, providing a comprehensive baseline that guides subsequent adjustment decisions to ensure reliable sound perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting multiple hearing aid parameters (gain, frequency response, temporal characteristics) based on the user's sensory memory test results. The system modifies these parameters to optimize performance for the individual's specific auditory processing strengths and weaknesses, thereby improving sound perception reliability.
3Measurement precision
If standard audiogram testing is used for adjustment, then the testing process is quick and straightforward, but the measurement of higher-level auditory processing functions is missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensory memory testing as a preliminary assessment that evaluates higher-level auditory processing functions before finalizing the hearing aid adjustment. These tests measure capabilities such as temporal pattern recognition and pitch discrimination, providing critical information about the user's auditory processing state that standard audiograms miss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional testing protocol that simultaneously assesses both cochlear function (via audiograms) and higher-level auditory processing (via sensory memory tests). This integrated approach allows the system to gather comprehensive data about the user's auditory system across multiple functional levels within a single adjustment session.
Data Source
AI summary
Individual adjustment of a hearing apparatus, and in particular a hearing aid, is improved by testing the auditory sensory memory of a user of the hearing apparatus. At least one test result is obtained and the hearing apparatus is adjusted in dependence on the at least one test result. The test person must detect, perceive and be able to reproduce changes in a signal.