Personalized Audio Processing for Hearing-Loss Frequency Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with hearing loss experience varying ability to hear different frequencies, leading to muffled audio perception, loss of clarity in speech and music, and distorted spatial characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A customized audio processor adjusts audio content through frequency equalization, dynamic range compression, dynamic range enhancement, and frequency transposition based on hearing test results, applying equal-loudness contours and spatial/multi-channel techniques to enhance clarity and spatial perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If audio is played at normal intensity levels, then energy consumption is low and device complexity is minimal, but hearing loss users cannot perceive audio clearly across all frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes audio parameters (frequency, intensity) dynamically based on hearing test results. It applies equal-loudness contours to adjust intensity levels across different frequency bands, boosting frequencies where the user has hearing loss while maintaining normal frequencies at appropriate levels. This parameter transformation enables clear audio perception for hearing loss users without requiring complex hardware modifications.
2Measurement precision
If frequency equalization is applied to compensate for hearing loss, then audio clarity improves, but audio distortion may increase in certain frequency ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hearing test results as feedback to automatically determine equalization settings. By measuring the user's actual hearing thresholds across different frequencies and using this feedback to configure the audio processor, the system adapts the equalization to match the user's specific hearing profile, reducing distortion while maximizing clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The equalization applies different intensity adjustments to different frequency bands based on the user's specific hearing loss pattern. Rather than applying uniform processing, the system targets specific frequency ranges where hearing loss occurs, applying localized intensity compensation only where needed while leaving other frequency bands unchanged.
3Measurement precision
If dynamic range compression is applied to amplify softer sounds, then audibility of quiet sounds improves, but loud sounds may become distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamic range compression by adjusting the intensity parameter of audio signals. It compresses the dynamic range by amplifying softer sounds that fall below a threshold while simultaneously limiting the maximum intensity of louder sounds to prevent distortion. This parameter transformation enables better audibility for hearing loss users while maintaining audio quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing a customized configuration of settings for an audio processor. The customized configuration is determined for a user based on results of a hearing test. The test may be provided by the system or another system. The customized configuration includes an increase or decrease to an intensity level of one or more frequency bands of one or more channels (e.g., a left and right) to compensate for a decreased hearing threshold level experienced by the user (e.g., as indicated by the hearing test results). The settings may be further adjusted based on an application of one or more equal-loudness contours representing varying sensitivity of the human ear to different frequencies. When audio is played by an application including or in communication with the audio processor, the audio is adjusted based on the customized configuration and the user is provided with an improved listening experience.