Patient-Adjustable Tinnitus Therapy Generator Settings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tinnitus therapy systems in hearing assistance devices lack patient involvement in adjusting settings, relying on professionals for initial programming and allowing only limited patient control over output levels and frequency response, which can lead to ineffective treatment due to subjective variability among patients.
Innovation Solution
A user interface within the hearing assistance device allows patients to directly adjust tinnitus therapy generator settings, including output levels and frequency response, enabling personalized and interactive selection of therapy stimuli, independent of hearing loss amplification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If professionals program tinnitus therapy settings, then initial therapy configuration is achieved, but patient involvement and personalization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to independently adjust tinnitus therapy settings through a user interface that allows modification of output levels and frequency response without requiring professional intervention. The system stores multiple preset configurations and allows patients to select and customize settings based on their subjective comfort and effectiveness, making the therapy adaptation process self-service oriented.
2Adaptability or versatility
If patients have full control over therapy settings, then personalization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple preset therapy configurations that are pre-programmed into the device. Patients can select from these predetermined settings and make minor adjustments rather than configuring all parameters from scratch. This preliminary preparation of common therapy profiles reduces the complexity patients would otherwise face while maintaining the ability to personalize treatment.
3Device complexity
If limited patient control is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment efficacy decreases due to subjective variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic therapy system where settings can be adjusted in real-time based on patient feedback and changing tinnitus conditions. The system allows patients to modify output levels and frequency response during therapy sessions, enabling the treatment to adapt to the patient's current state rather than remaining static. This dynamic adjustment capability improves treatment reliability without requiring excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for user adjustments to a tinnitus therapy generator within a hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of providing therapy for tinnitus to a patient. A user interface is provided for patient input to adjust settings of a tinnitus therapy generator. Sound is transmitted from the tinnitus therapy generator to the patient via a hearing assistance device receiver to provide therapy for tinnitus. In various embodiments, settings adjustable by the patient include output levels and frequency response. Other aspects are provided without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.