Hearing Prosthesis Loudness Normalization via Current Level Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids and prostheses often fail to accurately replicate the natural loudness perception of normal hearing individuals, leading to suboptimal sound perception for those with hearing loss, particularly in sensorineural hearing loss cases where electrical stimulation methods are used.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for obtaining data on perceived loudness levels across various sound stimuli and energy outputs, creating a personalized map for hearing prostheses to adjust current levels, ensuring that the prostheses evoke hearing percepts that align with normalized loudness levels similar to those experienced by normal hearers, using statistical and recipient-specific data to configure the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional hearing aids and prostheses use standard amplification and electrical stimulation methods, then basic sound transmission is achieved, but accurate replication of natural loudness perception is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting electrical stimulation parameters (current levels, pulse widths, frequencies) based on individual recipient characteristics and measured loudness perception data. The system modifies stimulation parameters dynamically to match the recipient's specific hearing profile, thereby improving loudness perception accuracy while maintaining sound perception quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system measures the recipient's perceived loudness levels through questionnaires and subjective assessments, then uses this feedback to automatically adjust stimulation parameters. This closed-loop approach ensures that the prosthesis adapts to the recipient's actual perception, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If electrical stimulation current levels are increased to improve hearing perception, then sound detection capability is improved, but distortion of natural loudness perception occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to optimize the relationship between current levels and perceived loudness. By establishing individualized mapping functions that account for the recipient's specific hearing characteristics, the system achieves accurate sound detection without distorting natural loudness perception. The stimulation parameters are adjusted within optimal ranges to prevent saturation and maintain perceptual linearity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the stimulation parameters adaptive rather than fixed. The system continuously adjusts current levels based on the recipient's feedback and measured perception data, creating a dynamic mapping that preserves the natural relationship between sound intensity and perceived loudness across different operating conditions.
3Measurement precision
If personalized fitting procedures are implemented to improve loudness normalization, then sound perception accuracy is improved, but fitting time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the hearing prosthesis to automatically perform loudness normalization based on pre-collected recipient data and standardized measurement protocols. The system autonomously adjusts parameters without requiring extensive manual intervention from clinicians, thereby improving normalization accuracy while reducing fitting time and procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting recipient-specific hearing characteristics and loudness perception data before the actual fitting process. This pre-characterization allows the system to start with optimized initial parameters, significantly reducing the time required for iterative adjustments during the fitting procedure while maintaining high normalization accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, including obtaining data indicative of respective perceived loudness levels for a plurality of hearing percepts respectively evoked at different current levels, and creating a map for the hearing prosthesis based on the obtained data by adjusting at least one of the respective current levels based on data of a respective perceived loudness for another current level.