Hearing Device Acoustic Program Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices for mild hearing losses face low acceptance due to high costs, artifacts like noise and distortion, annoyance from sound changes without hearing benefit, maintenance expenses, and the ease of unaided hearing being a strong alternative.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that automatically select between hearing programs based on acoustic situations, applying gain only above a predefined frequency for calm situations and reducing noise in audible frequencies for noisy situations, allowing self-adjustment and reducing the comb filter effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a hearing device is used to correct mild hearing losses, then audibility and intelligibility are improved, but artifacts such as noise, distortion, and comb filter effect occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different hearing programs (first and second programs) based on detected acoustic situations. The device transitions from a first hearing program optimized for calm situations to a second hearing program optimized for noisy situations, and vice versa. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maintain optimal performance across varying acoustic environments while minimizing artifacts in each specific situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key processing parameters between hearing programs: the first program applies gain primarily above a frequency limit to enhance soft sounds in calm situations, while the second program applies noise reduction in audible frequency ranges for noisy situations. By switching between these different parameter configurations, the device improves audibility when needed while minimizing artifacts in each acoustic context.
2Measurement precision
If hearing devices apply processing to improve mild hearing losses, then hearing benefit is achieved, but maintenance costs and adjustment expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic acoustic situation detection and hearing program selection that operates without user intervention. The device autonomously detects the acoustic environment and switches between hearing programs accordingly, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by professionals. This self-service capability significantly reduces maintenance and adjustment costs while maintaining optimal hearing benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically changes processing parameters (gain application, noise reduction) based on detected acoustic situations, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration by audiologists. This automatic parameter adaptation reduces professional adjustment expenses and simplifies ongoing maintenance.
3Measurement precision
If hearing devices process sounds to improve intelligibility, then hearing benefit is improved, but annoyance due to sound changes without benefit occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adapts the processing behavior to match the acoustic situation. In calm acoustic situations, the first hearing program applies minimal processing (gain above frequency limit) to avoid unnecessary sound changes. In noisy situations, the second program activates noise reduction to improve intelligibility when actually needed. This dynamic matching prevents annoyance by applying processing only when beneficial.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes processing parameters (gain vs. noise reduction) based on acoustic situation detection, ensuring that sound modifications are applied only when they provide actual hearing benefit. This conditional parameter switching eliminates unnecessary sound changes that would otherwise cause annoyance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for better matching of the needs of mild to very mild hearing losses is obtained than with known hearing devices. The method comprising the steps of determining an acoustic situation by processing an input signal of a hearing device openly coupled to an ear of a user, selecting at least two hearing programs in dependence on the determined acoustic situation, at least one of the hearing programs being suitable for calm acoustic situations, and at least another one of the hearing programs being suitable for noisy acoustic situations, applying a gain only above a predefined frequency limit to the input signal if one of the hearing programs for calm acoustic situations is selected, and reducing noise in the input signal only in a frequency range within audible frequencies if one of the hearing programs for noisy acoustic situations is selected.