Uncomfortable Sound Pressure Evaluation Using EEG Event-Related Potentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for estimating uncomfortable sound pressure levels in hearing aid fitting are inaccurate, leading to potential overbearing sounds being output to users, which can cause discomfort and require multiple fittings to adjust correctly.
Innovation Solution
An uncomfortable sound pressure evaluation system that measures electroencephalogram signals, presents sound stimulation groups of varying frequencies, extracts event-related potential information, estimates uncomfortable sound pressure, and corrects estimated values to a maximum acceptable level to prevent overbearing sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If UCL is estimated by conventional electroencephalogram technique using non-loud sound pressure, then individual UCL estimation is enabled, but there is a relatively large error between estimated UCL and actually-measured UCL
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of users into high-UCL and low-UCL groups based on electroencephalogram responses to non-loud sounds before determining the final UCL value. This preliminary action enables the system to apply different determination methods (actual measurement vs. estimation) based on the user's classification, thereby improving overall estimation accuracy while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses electroencephalogram responses to non-loud sounds as a proxy or copy to predict UCL for loud sounds. By analyzing the brain's response pattern to safe-level sounds and using this as a reference copy, the system can estimate UCL without necessarily exposing the user to actually loud sounds, reducing measurement error while maintaining individualization
2Ease of operation
If UCL is determined through calculation from hearing threshold level, then measurement process is simplified, but UCL does not reflect individual differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from electroencephalogram measurements to adjust and personalize UCL determination. Instead of relying solely on universal calculation formulas, the system uses real-time brain response feedback from each user to determine their specific UCL characteristics, thereby reflecting individual differences while maintaining operational feasibility through automated measurement and processing
3Productivity
If estimated UCL with large error is used for hearing aid adjustment, then fitting process can proceed, but overbearing sounds may be output causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of users into high-UCL and low-UCL groups before final hearing aid adjustment. This preliminary action allows the system to identify users who are at risk of discomfort and apply more conservative or accurate determination methods for their UCL values, preventing overbearing sounds while maintaining efficient fitting processes for users with accurate estimates
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies beforehand cushioning by using electroencephalogram-based classification to identify potential risks before final hearing aid programming. By detecting users with high-UCL characteristics or large estimation errors in advance, the system can adjust parameters conservatively or perform additional verification, cushioning against the harmful effect of overbearing sounds before they occur during actual use
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces estimation errors in uncomfortable sound pressure levels, ensuring safer hearing aid fittings by preventing overbearing sounds and reducing the need for multiple adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a measurement section, configured to measure an electroencephalogram signal of a user
Implementation Method 2
an extraction section, configured to extract, for each sound stimulation group, information concerning event-related potential from the electroencephalogram signal
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary uncomfortable sound pressure evaluation system consecutively presents sound stimulation groups to a user. Each sound stimulation group includes a sound stimulation, and the sound stimulation groups differ in frequency from one another. The system includes: an extraction section configured to extract, for each sound stimulation group, information concerning event-related potential relating to the sound stimulation; an estimation section configured to estimate an uncomfortable sound pressure (UCL) of the user from the information concerning event-related potential; and a correction section configured to determine whether the estimated UCL is higher than a predefined maximum UCL or not, and if a proportion of those determination results which indicate the UCL to be higher than the maximum UCL is smaller than predetermined, correcting each UCL determined as higher than the maximum UCL to a sound pressure equal to or less than the maximum UCL.