A method to analyse and test the automatic selection of hearing aid programs

Authors

  • Hendrik Husstedt German Institute of Hearing Aids, Lübeck, Germany
  • Simone Wollermann German Institute of Hearing Aids, Lübeck, Germany
  • Jürgen Tchorz University of Applied Sciences Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

Keywords:

hearing aid program, classification, adaptive feature

Abstract

Digital hearing aids usually provide different hearing aid programs. This means different settings can be selected to adapt the signal processing to different hearing situations. Furthermore, advanced devices often include a classification algorithm that continuously analyses the acoustic environment and automatically selects a hearing aid program accordingly. However, there exists no method to analyse this adaptive feature. Therefore, we present a possibility to analyse and test which hearing aid program is active in a specific hearing situation. To proof the concept, hearing aids of two different manufacturers are analysed. These results give insights into the differences between classification strategies and classification quality among hearing aid manufacturers. Moreover, it shows that some signals, which humans can easily classify, are difficult to classify for hearing aids. Furthermore, the result of one device is compared with the classification entries of the data logging feature, which shows good agreement and verifies the new method. In addition, this comparison shows that the new method allows for a more comprehensive analysis so that using the data logging is no reasonable alternative.

References

European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) (2016). “Description and Terms of Use of the IFFM and IFnoise signals,” (Available at: http://www.ehima.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IFFM_and_IFnoise.zip)

Holube, I., Fredelake, S., Vlaming, M., and Kollmeier, B. (2010), “Development and analysis of an International Speech Test Signal (ISTS)”, Int. J. Audiol., 49, 891-903. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2010.506889

Husstedt, H., (2016). “Definition und Nachweis von Hörprogrammen bei Hörsystemen,” 61st International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians, Hannover, Germany.

Schaub. A., (2008). Digital Hearing Aids. Edited by Birgitta Brandenburg (Thieme Medical Publishers. Inc., New York), pp. 107-123.

Tchorz, J., Wollermann, S., and Husstedt, H. (2017). “Classification of Environmental Sounds for Future Hearing Aid Applications,” Proceedings of the 28th Conference on Electronic Speech Signal Processing (ESSV 2017), Saarbrücken, Germany, pp. 294-299.
Adaptive processes in hearing

Additional Files

Published

2017-12-14

How to Cite

Husstedt, H., Wollermann, S., & Tchorz, J. (2017). A method to analyse and test the automatic selection of hearing aid programs. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 6, 143–150. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2017-17

Issue

Vol. 6 (2017): Adaptive Processes in Hearing

Section

2017/3. Adaptive and learning processes with hearing devices

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