Hearing System Programming Device Adaptive Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing systems, despite advanced digital signal processing, often fail to significantly improve hearing ability in everyday situations due to the brain's reduced ability to differentiate between useful and interfering sounds in individuals with hearing loss, leading to increased perception of noise and unsatisfactory hearing improvement.
Innovation Solution
A method for patient-specific programming of hearing systems involves generating and emitting acoustic test signals, receiving user feedback, and adapting the system's programming based on this feedback to improve sound differentiation and perception, using a hearing system programming device that can modify parameters such as amplification and filter settings over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amplification is increased to improve hearing ability, then sound pressure acting on the eardrum is increased, but the subjective perception of noise and background noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies frequency-dependent amplification where different frequency ranges are amplified to different degrees. Specifically, higher frequency components are amplified more than lower frequency components, allowing the system to enhance speech intelligibility while controlling overall noise perception. This local differentiation of amplification quality resolves the contradiction by targeting specific spectral regions for improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts amplification parameters based on feedback from user responses to test signals. The system modifies amplification factors, filter settings, and signal processing parameters in response to measured user performance, enabling adaptive optimization of hearing aid performance to balance speech enhancement with noise reduction for each individual user.
2Device complexity
If complex digital signal processing is used to improve hearing, then signal processing capabilities are enhanced, but the options for counteracting noise and background noise are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where users respond to test signals with different programming options, and the system uses these responses to objectively evaluate and adjust signal processing parameters. This feedback loop enables the system to learn from user performance and automatically optimize noise reduction and speech enhancement algorithms, transforming static signal processing into an adaptive, user-tailored system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from fixed signal processing parameters to dynamic, adaptive processing that changes based on user feedback and performance measurements. The system continuously adjusts amplification factors, filter characteristics, and signal processing algorithms in response to measured user responses, enabling real-time optimization of noise counteraction capabilities.
3Reliability
If amplification is increased to improve hearing, then speech understanding is enhanced, but the brain's ability to focus on specific sound events is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies selective amplification to specific frequency ranges and sound characteristics. By enhancing higher frequency components and applying frequency-dependent processing, the system improves speech intelligibility while preserving the brain's ability to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant sounds. The local quality differentiation allows important speech cues to be amplified without proportionally amplifying background noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary testing and evaluation before final programming is applied. Users complete data collection sequences with test signals to establish baseline performance, and the system uses this preliminary information to objectively determine optimal programming parameters. This preliminary action ensures that the subsequent amplification settings are tailored to maximize speech understanding while preserving sound differentiation capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a hearing aid programming device (1), comprising: a) a test signal generator (11) designed to generate at least one acoustic test signal; b) at least one acoustic playback unit (12) and/or a transmission unit for transmitting the at least one test signal to a playback unit; c) an input unit (13) designed to receive a user's response to the at least one test signal; d) a program modification unit (14) designed to determine a modified programming of a hearing aid (2) taking into account the received response; e) a learning configuration memory (16) operationally coupled with the program modification unit (14) for storing a configuration of the programming of the hearing aid (2); f) a communication unit (15) designed for data communication with the hearing aid (2) and for transmitting the modified programming to the hearing aid.The disclosure also relates to a hearing system arrangement with a hearing system programming device and a method for patient-specific programming of a hearing system.