Tinnitus Test Sound Auto-Adjustment for Audiogram-Based Loudness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tinnitus measurement tools require manual adjustment of sound intensity and spectral levels, which is time-consuming and impractical, especially for patients with steeply sloping hearing loss, and fail to ensure audibility of high-frequency components, leading to inaccurate and tedious testing.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically adjusts the intensity and spectral level of test sounds using a patient's audiogram, a psychoacoustic loudness model, and a tinnitus spectrum model to maintain constant perceived loudness across frequencies and ensure audibility of significant spectral components, reducing the need for frequent manual adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of sound intensity and spectral levels is used, then flexibility in testing different frequencies is achieved, but testing becomes time-consuming and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts sound intensity and spectral levels based on the patient's audiogram and psychoacoustic models, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by the clinician. The processing circuit autonomously computes appropriate levels for each frequency and sound type, making the system self-sufficient in parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes sound intensity and spectral level parameters based on the patient's specific hearing characteristics and the frequency being tested. By automatically modifying these parameters according to pre-computed values from psychoacoustic models, the system maintains optimal testing conditions across different frequencies without manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If fixed sound intensity is used across frequencies, then testing is simpler, but high-frequency components become inaudible for patients with steeply sloping hearing loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different sound intensity levels to different frequency bands based on the patient's audiogram. Instead of using a uniform intensity across all frequencies, the processing circuit computes and applies frequency-specific intensity values that account for the patient's varying hearing sensitivity at different frequencies, ensuring each frequency is audible at an appropriate level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sound intensity and spectral levels according to the specific testing conditions, patient characteristics, and frequency being evaluated. The processing circuit continuously computes appropriate parameter values based on the patient's audiogram and psychoacoustic models, allowing the system to adapt in real-time rather than using fixed parameters.
3Productivity
If automated sound level adjustment is implemented, then testing efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuit acts as an intermediary that automatically computes and applies appropriate sound intensity and spectral levels based on pre-stored psychoacoustic models and the patient's audiogram. This intermediary component handles the complex calculations and parameter adjustments, shielding the clinician from complexity while maintaining high testing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary computations of appropriate sound levels and spectral parameters before actual testing begins. The processing circuit uses the patient's audiogram and psychoacoustic models to pre-compute optimal parameter values, so that during testing, only simple parameter application is needed, thereby improving efficiency without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for psychoacoustic evaluation of tinnitus synthesizes a test sound that is customized for a patient using the patient's audiogram, a model of the tinnitus related to the patient's audiogram, a psychoacoustic loudness model, and various test-sound parameters. In various embodiments, the system automatically adjusts the intensity and spectral level of the test sound such that the intensity of the test sound as perceived by the patient remains approximately constant across various frequencies and/or sound types used in the psychoacoustic evaluation of tinnitus.