Self-Fitting Hearing Device Signal Calibration via Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-fitting hearing aids face challenges due to the lack of access to calibrated fitting stations and the user's inability to properly calibrate signals, especially with consumer-grade devices that lack standardization in volume control and signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a wireless communication device receives feedback from a hearing device to adjust calibration signals, ensuring they meet the necessary criteria for proper fitting, using a process that involves transmitting, analyzing, and adjusting calibration signals to achieve accurate self-fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hearing aid user attempts to self-fit a hearing aid using consumer-grade wireless communication devices, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to lack of standardized volume control and signal calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the hearing device measures the actual received calibration signal level and communicates this information back to the wireless communication device. The wireless device then adjusts the signal level based on this feedback to achieve the target calibration level, resolving the inconsistency between consumer device output and hearing device input requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing device acts as an intermediary that receives calibration signals from the wireless communication device, measures their actual level, and provides feedback about the measurement. This intermediary role enables the system to bridge the gap between non-standardized consumer device output and standardized hearing device input requirements
2Measurement precision
If a fitting station is used for hearing aid fitting, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to specialized equipment and professional infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service fitting by allowing the hearing device to autonomously perform calibration measurements and communicate results to the wireless communication device. The user can initiate and complete the fitting process independently without requiring specialized fitting stations or professional audiologist intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system replicates the essential calibration functionality of professional fitting stations by implementing the same measurement and feedback mechanisms within the hearing device itself, allowing consumer devices to perform fitting tasks previously exclusive to specialized equipment
3Ease of operation
If consumer-grade wireless communication devices are used for signal transmission, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but signal transmission reliability deteriorates due to unpredictable volume levels and lack of standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device measures the actual received signal level from the wireless communication device and feeds this information back to enable automatic adjustment of transmission levels, ensuring consistent and reliable signal delivery despite variations in consumer device characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the signal transmission parameters (volume level, power) based on feedback from the hearing device measurements, transforming the unreliable fixed-output consumer device signal into a reliable variable-output signal that consistently meets calibration requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology relates to a self fitting hearing device and a method for self fitting the hearing device. Specifically, the disclosed technology relates to transmitting calibration signals from a wireless communication device to a hearing device so that the wireless communication device can provide signals or audio streams calibrated for a self-fitting for a hearing device. The wireless communication device can receive feedback from a hearing device that received a calibration signal and use this feedback to adjust signals it transmits to a hearing device for self fitting. More specifically, the hearing device receiving the calibration signal can determine whether the calibration actually received by the hearing device has criteria that meets a threshold for properly fitting the hearing device.