Hearing Instrument Behavioral Diagnostic Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing instruments lack a method to determine whether the wearer is fully benefiting from the hearing enhancement provided, due to variations in hearing perception over time and exposure to environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A hearing instrument configured to deliver a series of supra-threshold audio stimuli and receive an indication of the quality of perception from the wearer, storing and presenting this information via a user interface, allowing the wearer to assess their perception of sounds and determine if they are receiving full benefit from the hearing instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing instruments provide hearing enhancement, then the wearer's hearing ability is improved, but there is no method to determine whether the wearer is fully benefiting from the enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by presenting audio stimuli to the wearer and collecting their perception quality responses. This feedback loop allows the system to assess whether the wearer is fully benefiting from hearing enhancement and to identify potential issues such as hearing loss or instrument malfunctions, thereby resolving the information gap about benefit realization.
2Measurement precision
If behavioral diagnostic is implemented, then perception quality assessment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing instrument is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only provides hearing enhancement but also conducts behavioral diagnostics by presenting stimuli and collecting perception quality data. This multi-functionality approach allows the same device to serve both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, enabling perception quality measurement without requiring a completely separate diagnostic system.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing instrument comprises a processor coupled to memory, a user interface operatively coupled to the processor, one or more microphones, and an acoustic transducer. Audio processing circuitry is coupled to the one or more microphones, the acoustic transducer, and the processor. The processor is configured to deliver, via the acoustic transducer, a series of supra-threshold audio stimuli to an ear of the wearer, receive, from the wearer via the user interface, an indication of the quality of perception of the stimuli, and store the indication of the quality of perception in the memory. The processor can be configured to present the indication of the quality of perception of the stimuli via the user interface. The user interface can be implemented by the hearing instrument or an external electronic device communicatively coupled to the hearing instrument.