Hearing Device Gradual Gain After Prolonged Switch-Off
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices often cause discomfort when switched on after a prolonged off period due to immediate full amplification, overwhelming users who are not fully acclimatized to the fitted gain, especially after a night's rest.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the switch-off duration to initiate a short-term acclimatization period, gradually increasing sound program parameters from a starting value to a final value, reducing gain and sound processing during this period to ease users into full functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full amplification is applied immediately when the hearing device is switched on, then the hearing device provides its full functionality and compensates for hearing loss effectively, but it causes discomfort and overwhelming sensation for users who are not fully acclimatized, especially after a prolonged off period
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the user's acclimatization state before applying full amplification. By determining the switch-off duration and evaluating whether it exceeds a threshold indicating prolonged rest, the system prepares the amplification strategy in advance, gradually increasing gain rather than applying full amplification immediately, thus preventing user discomfort while maintaining effective hearing compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The amplification gain is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adapts the gain level based on the user's current state (determined by switch-off duration). When the device is switched on after a short period, full gain is applied; when switched on after a prolonged period, gain is gradually increased. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between providing full functionality and avoiding discomfort
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearing device operates with lower gain during a short term acclimatization period after prolonged switch-off, then user comfort is improved, but the full hearing compensation functionality is temporarily reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary lower gain during the short term acclimatization period as a preparatory measure. After determining that the switch-off duration exceeds the threshold, the system intentionally operates with reduced gain for a predetermined period, allowing the user's auditory system to gradually adapt before full amplification is restored, thus balancing comfort with eventual full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by applying lower gain for a specific duration (the short term acclimatization period) followed by restoration of full gain. This time-based periodic adjustment allows the user to gradually adapt to the amplification, resolving the contradiction between immediate full compensation and gradual comfort adaptation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A method for operating a hearing system (10) with at least one hearing device (12) comprises: when the hearing device (12) is switched on, determining a switch-off duration (doff) of the hearing device (12); determining a short term acclimatization period in dependence of the switch-off duration (doff), wherein a duration (dacc) of the short term acclimatization period depends on the switch-off duration (doff); during the short term acclimatization period, increasing a transition parameter (38) from a starting value (gs) to a final value (gf); and processing an audio signal (22) with the hearing device (12) with at least one sound program (40), which sound program (40) depends on at least one sound program parameter (42), and changing the at least one sound program parameter (42) depending on the transition parameter (38), wherein, when the transition parameter (38) increases from the starting value (gs) to the final value (gf), the at least one sound program parameter (42) is changed from an acclimatization start parameter to a fitted parameter.