VR Hearing Assessment Headset Using Brain Signal Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for determining hearing capacity are inaccurate and lack resolution, particularly when prescribing tailor-made hearing aids, and do not adequately consider spatial sound localization issues.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising ear enclosure means, virtual reality glasses, and a brain signal measurement system is used to provide audio and visual stimuli, measuring brain, eye, and ear signals to assess hearing capacity accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard diagnostic methods are used to determine hearing capacity, then the diagnostic process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision and resolution are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple diagnostic components into an integrated headset device: audio stimulus delivery system, visual stimulus delivery system (VR glasses), and brain signal measurement system (EEG/fNIRS). This merging allows simultaneous collection of multiple response types (auditory, visual, neural) to comprehensively assess hearing capacity with high precision while maintaining a unified user-friendly device form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic device performs multiple functions within a single system: it delivers audio stimuli through ear enclosure means, delivers visual stimuli through VR glasses, measures brain signals via EEG/fNIRS, and integrates these measurements to determine hearing capacity. This multi-functionality enables comprehensive hearing assessment without requiring multiple separate diagnostic devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hearing capacity assessment methods are used, then the diagnostic process is straightforward, but the ability to assess spatial sound localization and provide tailor-made hearing aid prescriptions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds spatial and neural dimensions to traditional hearing assessment. By incorporating VR glasses for visual stimuli and EEG/fNIRS for brain signal measurement, the system evaluates not only auditory threshold but also spatial sound localization capabilities and neural processing responses. This multi-dimensional approach enables comprehensive assessment of hearing capacity including spatial awareness, which is critical for tailor-made hearing aid prescriptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses brain signals (EEG/fNIRS) as an intermediary to indirectly assess hearing capacity and spatial localization abilities. Instead of relying solely on behavioral responses, the system measures neural activity in response to audio and visual stimuli, providing objective data about the patient's auditory processing and spatial awareness that can inform personalized hearing aid programming.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for determining a hearing capacity of a person (2), the device being configured for being worn over a head (3) of the person, comprising: - ear enclosure means (4) for enclosing the person's ears (5), such as over-the-ear (OTE) headphones (6), comprising an audio stimulus device (7) for providing an audio stimulus to one or two of the person's ears; - virtual reality (VR) glasses (8) for providing a visual stimulus to one or two of the person's eyes (9); and - a brain signal measurement device (10) configured for measuring a brain signal of the person in response to the audio stimulus and/or visual stimulus, wherein the determining of the hearing capacity of the person is at least partly based on the measured brain signal.