Hearing Device Controllable Filter for Tinnitus Frequency Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tinnitus treatments in hearing aids provide only temporary relief and do not address the underlying issue, while causal treatments require repetitive exposure to notched music, which can be cumbersome for hearing impaired individuals.
Innovation Solution
A listening device with a controllable filter that detects broadband signals and attenuates the tinnitus frequency range, offering sustainable tinnitus loudness reduction by automatically filtering out the tinnitus frequency component from broadband signals, while leaving non-broadband signals unmodified to prevent maladaptive auditory cortex reorganization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional approach emits a sound through the hearing instrument to compensate or disturb the tinnitus, then temporary partial elimination of tinnitus noise is achieved, but the tinnitus returns when the sound emission stops and the underlying issue is not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies preliminary action by automatically detecting broadband signals and pre-filtering them to remove tinnitus frequency components before the tinnitus can cause maladaptive auditory cortex reorganization. This proactive filtering approach sustains tinnitus relief continuously rather than requiring repetitive therapeutic exposure sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic detection and filtering of broadband signals without requiring user intervention or repetitive manual therapy sessions. The hearing device autonomously identifies broadband signals and applies appropriate filtering, making the tinnitus treatment self-sustaining and eliminating the need for repeated external therapeutic input.
2Reliability
If a causal treatment approach exposes the hearing impaired person to notched music repeatedly, then sustainable reduction of tinnitus loudness is achieved, but the treatment becomes cumbersome and requires repetitive user action
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automatic detection and filtering of broadband signals without requiring user intervention or repetitive manual therapy sessions. The hearing device autonomously identifies broadband signals and applies appropriate filtering, making the tinnitus treatment self-sustaining and eliminating the need for repeated external therapeutic input.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions into one system: it provides both hearing amplification and automatic tinnitus treatment through broadband signal filtering. The same hearing device that amplifies sounds for the hearing-impaired user also automatically detects and filters broadband signals to treat tinnitus, eliminating the need for separate therapeutic devices or repetitive manual therapy.
3Reliability
If the listening device filters broadband signals to attenuate tinnitus frequency components, then sustainable reduction of tinnitus loudness is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to signal detection and filtering mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tinnitus treatment function with the existing hearing amplification system. The broadband signal detection and filtering mechanisms are integrated into the hearing device's existing signal processing chain, combining multiple functions (hearing amplification and tinnitus treatment) into a single unified system rather than adding separate complex therapeutic devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic detection and filtering of broadband signals without requiring user intervention or repetitive manual therapy sessions. The hearing device autonomously identifies broadband signals and applies appropriate filtering, making the tinnitus treatment self-sustaining and eliminating the need for repeated external therapeutic input.
4Ease of operation
If the listening device automatically detects and filters broadband signals, then the treatment becomes convenient and sustainable, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring broadband signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tinnitus treatment function with the existing hearing amplification system. The broadband signal detection and filtering mechanisms are integrated into the hearing device's existing signal processing chain, combining multiple functions (hearing amplification and tinnitus treatment) into a single unified system rather than adding separate complex therapeutic devices.
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
The device achieves a sustainable reduction in tinnitus loudness by selectively filtering out the tinnitus frequency component from broadband signals, promoting a reversal of maladaptive auditory cortex reorganization and improving intelligibility of incoming acoustic signals.
Implementation Method 1
a controllable filter for filtering the electric input signal that is coupled to the detector and the input transducer and is configured to output a filtered electric input signal such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is attenuated
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to listening device (100) for a hearing impaired person being subjected to a tinnitus at a tinnitus frequency range. The listening device (100) comprises an input transducer configured to provide an electric input signal comprising audio and a detector (120) coupled to the input transducer (110), which is configured to determine whether the electric input signal (118) is a broadband signal or not and to provide a detection signal (128) in response. In accordance with the invention, the listening device furthermore comprises a controllable filter (130) for filtering the electric input signal (118) being coupled to the detector (120) and the input transducer (110) and configured to output a filtered electric input signal (138) such that a component of the electric input signal (118) in the tinnitus frequency range is dampened, if the detection signal (128) indicates that the electric input signal (118) is a broadband signal, and to output an unfiltered electric input signal (138') such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is not dampened, if the detection signal (128) indicates that the electric input signal (118) is not a broadband signal. The present invention also relates to a corresponding operating method and to a corresponding computer program.