Hearing Ability Visualization Using Rotated Audiogram Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional audiograms are confusing and disconnected from the general public's understanding of sound, leading to poor comprehension of hearing ability and limited access to appropriate technologies or treatments for individuals with hearing impairments, as they focus on comparing hearing to a fictional 'normal' rather than visualizing actual hearing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The development of 'fields of hearing' visualizations that use intuitive, three-dimensional representations of hearing ability, where volume is depicted as distance and frequency as height, allowing individuals to understand their hearing capabilities in relation to their environment and potential improvements through assistive technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional standardized audiogram orientation is used, then hearing ability can be compared against a fictional 'normal' person, but the visualization becomes confusing and disconnected from general public understanding of sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional audiogram orientation by rotating it 90 degrees counterclockwise. This inversion places low frequencies on the left and high frequencies on the right (matching musical notation and human intuition), while positioning quiet volumes at the top and loud volumes at the bottom (matching volume meter displays). This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the ability to measure and compare hearing ability while making the visualization intuitive and easy to comprehend for the general public.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using actual decibel values (dB SPL) instead of the fictional dB HL scale. This parameter change eliminates the need for the confusing fictional 'normal' person comparison while preserving the precision of hearing ability measurement. The visualization now directly displays real acoustic pressure levels that correspond to actual sound experiences.
2Shape
If fictional 'hearing level' decibels are used to visualize normal perception, then a flat straight line can be created, but the measurement becomes non-scientific and incomparable to other fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the decibel measurement parameter from the fictional dB HL (hearing level) to the scientifically accurate dB SPL (sound pressure level). This parameter change eliminates the need to create a flat straight line representation, as the actual hearing threshold follows a curved pattern across frequencies. The new parameter enables accurate scientific measurement and comparison with other acoustic fields while maintaining visual clarity through the rotated orientation.
3Device complexity
If traditional audiogram limits are used, then the standardized format can be maintained, but low frequency pitches cannot be graphed causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the frequency range by inverting and expanding the traditional audiogram boundaries. Instead of limiting frequencies to 250-8000 Hz with low frequencies on the right, the rotated visualization incorporates lower frequencies on the left side of the spectrum. This maintains format standardization through systematic rotation while dramatically improving frequency range comprehension and eliminating confusion about what constitutes 'low' frequency sounds.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of visualizing hearing ability, comprising acquiring, by one or more processors, audio data, generating, by the one or more processors, a hearing ability visualization with the audio data for display, wherein the hearing ability visualization includes a graphical element, a horizontal axis representing volume, and a vertical axis representing frequency, the graphical element being positioned relative to the horizontal axis such that volume is louder closer to the graphical element and quieter further from the graphical element.