Hearing Instrument Fitting via Loudness Interpolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing instrument fitting procedures are lengthy and cumbersome, requiring numerous measurements at multiple frequencies and loudness levels, making them impractical for both patients and audiologists.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures perceived loudness at a higher frequency resolution at an intermediate loudness level, allowing for interpolation of frequency dependency at low and high loudness levels, reducing the number of measurement points needed and simplifying the fitting process by separating the frequency and loudness components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurements are taken at multiple frequencies and loudness levels to achieve accurate individual fitting, then measurement precision is improved, but the procedure becomes lengthy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fitting procedure into two distinct stages: a calibration phase where the hearing instrument's transfer function is measured and stored, and a fitting phase where pre-programmed contours are applied. This segmentation eliminates the need for repeated measurements at multiple frequencies and loudness levels during the actual fitting, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining accuracy through the use of the stored transfer function data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of the hearing instrument's transfer function across multiple frequencies and loudness levels during the calibration phase, storing this data for later use. This preliminary action eliminates the need to repeat these time-consuming measurements during the actual fitting procedure, as the pre-collected data is reused to quickly apply appropriate contours.
2Manufacturing precision
If numerous measurement points are investigated to ensure accurate gain function determination, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the hearing instrument's transfer function characteristics by measuring and storing the impulse response at different loudness levels during calibration. This copied data is then used to generate appropriate contours without needing to physically re-measure the instrument multiple times, reducing measurement system complexity while maintaining gain function accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter being measured from the physical instrument characteristics to pre-calculated contour parameters that can be directly applied. By transforming the complex multi-frequency measurement data into simplified contour representations stored in memory, the system reduces measurement complexity while preserving the essential gain function information needed for accurate fitting.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for individually fitting a hearing instrument (10, 12) to a user, comprising at least one microphone (20) for generating an input audio signal from ambient sound, an audio signal processing unit (26) for processing the input audio signal into a processed output audio signal, and a transducer for stimulation of the human auditory system according to the processed output audio signal as input to said transducer, the method comprising: providing the user with the hearing instrument and starting operation of the hearing instrument; pre-defining a desired target loudness function, wherein loudness perception of a stimulus by the user when using the hearing instrument is defined as function of frequency and input sound pressure level at the microphone; measuring for a given measurement parameter set of perceived loudness levels and frequencies or frequency bands the respective transducer input audio signal level to be applied to the transducer input in order to achieve the respective perceived loudness level at the respective frequency or frequency band, said measurement parameter set comprising at least a low loudness level, an intermediate loudness level and a high loudness level, and said intermediate loudness level being measured for a larger number of frequencies or frequency bands and with a finer frequency resolution than said low and high loudness levels; calculating an individual gain function to be implemented in the audio signal processing unit in order to achieve the predefined target loudness function by taking into account the measured transducer input audio signal levels; and operating the hearing instrument with the individual gain function.