OTC Hearing Aid Gain Control Without Audiograms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids require audiograms for customization, which are cumbersome and deter individuals from accessing effective hearing assistance due to the need for specialized medical equipment and professional visits.
Innovation Solution
Customization of OTC hearing aids based on preset gain profiles and input-output functions without the need for audiograms, utilizing expansion, compression-amplification, no-amplification, and hard limit regions to apply gains across varying sound levels and frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If audiograms are used to customize hearing aids, then hearing aid customization precision is improved, but device accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring specialized medical equipment and professional visits
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to perform their own hearing assessment and customization without requiring professional audiologists. The automated speech-based hearing test and machine learning algorithm allow the device to self-customize settings based on user responses, eliminating the need for professional involvement while maintaining customization quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/professional audiogram testing system with an automated speech-based assessment system using machine learning algorithms. The complex professional fitting process is substituted with automated software that analyzes user responses to speech stimuli and automatically determines appropriate hearing aid settings
2Measurement precision
If audiograms are required for hearing aid customization, then measurement precision of hearing thresholds is improved, but device complexity and time consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the complex professional audiogram process. Instead of requiring full professional audiogram equipment and procedures, the system uses a simplified speech-based assessment that captures the necessary hearing threshold information through automated algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters from traditional frequency-based audiogram thresholds to speech-based recognition thresholds. By measuring hearing ability through speech stimuli and automated recognition algorithms rather than traditional tone thresholds, the system achieves comparable precision with reduced complexity
3Reliability
If professional fitting is required for hearing aids, then hearing aid performance is improved, but loss of time and productivity worsen due to scheduling and visiting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary hearing assessment and customization actions automatically during the initial device setup. The machine learning algorithm pre-determines appropriate settings based on the user's speech-based hearing test results, eliminating the need for subsequent professional fitting visits and reducing overall time commitment
Data Source
AI summary
An over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid includes a microphone for receiving input audio signals. a processing system that recieves and processes the input audio signal, and an output speaker configured to output the processed audio signal to a subject's ear canal. The processing system is configued to apply gains to the input audio signals to form a processed audio signal. Advantageously, the gains are determined from an input-output function that includes: (1) an expansion region at low input levels at levels from 0 dB SPL to 30 dB SPL, (2) a compression-amplification region at low-to-moderate levels at levels between 30 dB SPL and 70 dB SPL, (3) a no-amplification region at high levels between 70 dB SPL and 117 dB SPL, and (4) a hard limit at 117 dB SPL output or above.