Hearing Prosthesis Speech Exposure Analysis for Linguistic Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with hearing loss, particularly those using cochlear implants or other prostheses that do not merely amplify sounds but provide physiological stimulation, face challenges in effectively perceiving and producing speech, necessitating exposure to sufficient and quality speech interactions to improve speech and language skills.
Innovation Solution
A hearing prosthesis that logs and analyzes audio input to determine linguistic characteristics, switching between stimulation modes based on the input, and outputs data to facilitate rehabilitation by tracking speech exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing prostheses provide physiological stimulation to help recipients perceive sound, then hearing perception is improved, but the ability to effectively perceive and produce speech deteriorates without sufficient speech exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to clinicians about the recipient's speech exposure levels by logging and analyzing audio data. The processor determines linguistic characteristics and generates reports that feed back into therapy planning, allowing clinicians to adjust rehabilitation strategies based on actual speech exposure measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing prosthesis automatically logs audio data and determines linguistic characteristics without requiring external intervention. The device self-monitors speech exposure by analyzing its own audio input and generating usage reports that reflect the recipient's actual speech interaction levels.
2Reliability
If hearing prostheses amplify or stimulate sound continuously, then hearing perception is improved, but differentiation between speech and non-speech sounds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processor analyzes linguistic parameters of the audio signal to distinguish speech from non-speech sounds. By examining characteristics such as frequency patterns, temporal structure, and spectral features, the system identifies speech segments within the continuous audio stream received by the hearing prosthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary analysis layer between the raw audio input and the stimulation output. The processor acts as a mediator that selectively identifies speech components in the audio signal and uses this information to generate targeted feedback reports about speech exposure, separating speech detection from the general hearing stimulation function.
3Reliability
If hearing prostheses provide physiological stimulation, then hearing perception is improved, but speech and language rehabilitation deteriorates without sufficient quality speech exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to clinicians about the recipient's speech exposure levels by logging and analyzing audio data. The processor determines linguistic characteristics and generates reports that feed back into therapy planning, allowing clinicians to adjust rehabilitation strategies based on actual speech exposure measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of audio data to determine linguistic characteristics before generating rehabilitation reports. By pre-processing and categorizing speech exposure data, the system prepares information that directly supports subsequent clinical decision-making and therapy planning.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system to help determine the extent to which a hearing prosthesis recipient is exposed to speech. The hearing prosthesis will log data regarding audio input, optimally in correspondence with times when the hearing prosthesis is in a stimulation-on mode in which the hearing prosthesis is set to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient in accordance with received audio input, so as to facilitate identification of speech to which the recipient is exposed. Further, as the hearing prosthesis itself receives the audio input, the hearing prosthesis may analyze the audio input to determine one or more linguistic characteristics of the audio input, such as a quantity of speech by the recipient and/or by others, and the hearing prosthesis may output data representing the determined one or more linguistic characteristics. Advantageously, the data may then be used to help facilitate rehabilitation of the recipient.