Hearing Device Audio Feedback for Own-Voice Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of hearing devices struggle to determine a suitable sound level for their own voice, often leading to inappropriate voice modulation due to factors like active noise canceling, ear occlusion, hearing impairment, and the Lombard effect, which affects communication in various environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that adjusts the sound level of streamed audio and environmental sound presented to the user based on their own voice and environmental sound levels, using a hearing device and a computing device to induce appropriate voice modulation through the Lombard effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active noise canceling is implemented by the hearing device, then background noise is reduced and speech understanding is improved, but the user cannot accurately perceive environmental sound levels, leading to inappropriate voice modulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary feedback mechanism that mediates between the noise-canceling function and voice level control. A microphone captures environmental sound, the processor analyzes it to determine ambient noise levels, and this information is used to adjust the streaming audio level or provide haptic feedback, creating an intermediate signal that compensates for the noise canceling effect and enables accurate voice modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring environmental sound levels through a microphone and using this information to adjust the streaming audio output level. The processor compares the captured environmental sound with a reference level and dynamically adjusts the gain of the streaming audio to maintain appropriate voice modulation despite active noise canceling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearing device occludes the user's ears, then external noise is blocked and hearing protection is provided, but the user loses natural acoustic feedback for determining appropriate voice levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary feedback path that bypasses the occluded ear canal. A microphone captures environmental acoustic energy, the processor analyzes this signal to determine ambient noise characteristics, and this information is used to control the streaming audio output level, providing an alternative feedback mechanism that does not rely on natural ear canal acoustics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the natural mechanical acoustic feedback path (sound waves traveling through the ear canal) with an electronic feedback system. The microphone, processor, and streaming audio output create an electronic loop that substitutes for the mechanical acoustic feedback that would normally be available through the ear canal, enabling voice level determination despite ear occlusion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If streaming audio is provided to the user, then entertainment and communication capabilities are enhanced, but the user's voice level becomes inappropriate for the actual environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the streaming audio output level based on real-time environmental conditions. The processor continuously monitors environmental sound levels captured by the microphone and dynamically modifies the gain of the streaming audio signal to maintain an appropriate balance between entertainment and communication, enabling suitable voice modulation despite audio streaming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the output level parameter of the streaming audio based on environmental sound level measurements. The processor analyzes the environmental sound captured by the microphone and adjusts the streaming audio gain parameter dynamically, allowing the system to adapt the audio output characteristics to match actual environmental conditions and maintain appropriate voice modulation.
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 communication by ensuring the user's voice level is suitable for the environment, enhancing the user's experience and that of conversation partners by adjusting sound levels to match the ambient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting, based on the own voice sound level and the environmental sound level, a streaming sound level representative of a sound level of streamed audio being streamed to the hearing device from a source device communicatively coupled to the hearing device, or a presented environmental sound level representative of a sound level of environmental sound being presented, in addition to the streamed audio, by the hearing device to the user
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes a hearing system determining an own voice sound level representative of a sound level of a voice of a user of a hearing device, determining an environmental sound level representative of a sound level of an environment of the user while the user uses the hearing device, and adjusting, based on the own voice sound level and the environmental sound level at least one of a streaming sound level representative of a sound level of streamed audio being streamed to the hearing device from a source device communicatively coupled to the hearing device, or a presented environmental sound level representative of a sound level of environmental sound being presented, in addition to the streamed audio, by the hearing device to the user.