Automated Hearing Device Selection via Subjective Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing assistance devices, such as hearing aids and Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAP), are complex and expensive, making it difficult for individuals with hearing impairments to select and obtain appropriate devices without professional assistance, leading to low adoption rates due to high costs and customization challenges.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that presents users with a series of questions to gather subjective responses, allowing for the automatic selection and recommendation of hearing devices based on their specific hearing needs, including options for amplifying high frequencies, reducing low frequencies, and addressing stress-related noise, thereby simplifying the selection process and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing aids provide adjustable operational parameters and processing types to customize performance, then hearing performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables consumers to self-administer the hearing screening and device selection process through an automated online platform, eliminating the need for professional audiologist intervention. The consumer completes hearing questions, receives automated screening results, and gets device recommendations independently, making the customization process self-service oriented.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of in-person professional fitting with an automated computer-based screening and recommendation system. The online platform uses algorithms to process hearing responses and generate device recommendations, substituting the manual professional assessment process with an automated digital system.
2Reliability
If hearing aids require professional fitting and customization, then hearing performance is improved, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables consumers to self-administer the hearing screening and device selection process through an automated online platform, eliminating the need for professional audiologist intervention. The consumer completes hearing questions, receives automated screening results, and gets device recommendations independently, making the customization process self-service oriented.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary hearing screening and device recommendation actions before the consumer makes a purchase decision. The automated screening process evaluates hearing needs and pre-recommends suitable devices, allowing consumers to make informed decisions without requiring preliminary in-person professional appointments.
3Reliability
If hearing aids are customized for specific hearing needs, then hearing performance is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables consumers to self-administer the hearing screening and device selection process through an automated online platform, eliminating the need for professional audiologist intervention. The consumer completes hearing questions, receives automated screening results, and gets device recommendations independently, making the customization process self-service oriented.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential hearing screening and device selection functions from the professional service context and places them in an automated online platform. By separating these core functions from the need for professional involvement, the system reduces the cost component while maintaining the ability to provide customized hearing solutions.
4Ease of operation
If PSAP provide sound amplification without professional assistance, then accessibility is improved, but selection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual trial-and-error selection process with an automated computer-based screening system. The online platform uses algorithms to process hearing responses and generate accurate device recommendations, substituting the imprecise self-selection approach with a systematic automated assessment method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables consumers to self-administer the hearing screening and device selection process through an automated online platform, eliminating the need for professional audiologist intervention. The consumer completes hearing questions, receives automated screening results, and gets device recommendations independently, making the customization process self-service oriented.
Data Source
AI summary
A system selects a hearing device from several different available hearing devices in response to screening a consumer by providing a plurality of questions regarding the consumer's hearing that each require a subjective response. The questions can include questions relating to hearing difficulty during one-on-one conversations, hearing difficulty during conversations with women and/or children, hearing difficulty during conversations in restaurants and/or meetings, and presence of stress and/or agitating sounds. The recommended hearing device is automatically selected for the consumer based at least in part on the subjective responses. The recommended hearing device provides enhancement of high frequencies if the responses indicate difficulty hearing women and/or children, provides reduction of low frequencies if the responses indicate difficulty hearing in restaurants and/or meetings, and provides phase cancellation if the responses indicate presence of stress and/or agitating sounds. The recommended hearing device is identified to the user for possible purchase.