Hearing Device Fitting Agent Using Uncertainty-Based Parameter Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for fitting and tuning hearing devices do not effectively account for user preferences, leading to a tedious process for healthcare professionals and suboptimal user experiences.

Innovation Solution

A fitting agent that initializes a user model with a user preference function and response distribution, allowing for the presentation of primary and secondary test settings to users, detection of preferred settings, and updating of the user model based on user input, thereby optimizing hearing device parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional rules such as NAL-NL1 or NAL-NL2 are applied for fitting hearing devices, then hearing loss compensation can be achieved, but user preferences are not taken into account

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing loss compensationVSAvoiduser preference adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where user preferences are continuously collected and used to update the fitting model. The system presents test signals with different parameters, receives user feedback on perceived quality, and iteratively adjusts parameters to optimize both hearing loss compensation and user preference satisfaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes multiple parameters including gain, compression ratio, attack time, release time, and other hearing device parameters based on user feedback. By systematically varying these parameters and evaluating user responses, the system adapts the fitting to individual user preferences while maintaining hearing loss compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If healthcare professionals manually tune hearing device parameters using traditional methods, then hearing loss compensation is achieved, but the process becomes tedious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing loss compensationVSAvoidfitting process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service fitting where the hearing device automatically performs the tuning process based on user feedback. The device independently adjusts parameters, evaluates user responses, and converges on optimal settings without requiring continuous manual intervention from healthcare professionals, significantly reducing fitting time while maintaining compensation quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automated feedback loop allows the system to rapidly iterate through parameter adjustments based on real-time user responses. This automated process replaces time-consuming manual trial-and-error tuning with an efficient algorithmic approach that quickly converges on optimal settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If more test settings are presented to users for preference learning, then model accuracy improves, but user burden and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser preference model accuracyVSAvoiduser feedback burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a stopping criterion that determines when sufficient user feedback has been collected to achieve adequate model accuracy. Rather than requiring an excessive number of test settings, the system adaptsively stops the process when the model reaches a satisfactory level of precision, balancing accuracy with user burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The number of test settings presented is dynamically adjusted based on the evolving uncertainty in the preference model. As the model becomes more certain about user preferences, fewer additional test settings are needed. The system adaptively modifies the testing protocol to maintain efficiency while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11582569B2Fitting agent and method of determining hearing device parameters

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 GN HEARING AS

AI summary

A fitting agent for a hearing device and related method is disclosed, wherein the fitting agent is configured to initialize a user model comprising a user preference function; obtain a primary test setting for the hearing device; obtain a secondary test setting for the hearing device; present the primary test setting and the secondary test setting to a user; detect a user input of a preferred test setting indicative of a preference for either the primary test setting or the secondary test setting; and update the user model based on hearing device parameters of the preferred test setting, wherein to obtain the secondary test setting comprises: obtain a candidate set of candidate test settings; determine an uncertainty parameter for each candidate test setting; and select the secondary test setting from the candidate set of candidate test settings based on the uncertainty parameters of the candidate test settings.