Neurofuzzy based device for programmable hearing aids
First Claim
1. An external programmer to be used with a separate programmable hearing aid, the external programmer comprising;
- circuitry including a neural network for generating a set of hearing aid response defining parameters addressing at least one aspect of a user'"'"'s hearing impairment in at least one listening environment;
circuitry, coupled to the network for entering audiological and other relevant data that characterize aspects of the impairment and of the user;
a fuzzy logic processor incorporating rule generating commands for modifying the parameter set based on user-provided responses as a result of the user listening to pre-stored sound stimuli;
circuitry for downloading the parameter set to the separate hearing aid;
means for generating different prestored sound stimuli for the in situ evaluation of the performance of the hearing aid;
means for receiving the user responses to be used by the fuzzy logic processor;
means for the online retraining of the neural network after successful fittings;
means for the off-line retraining of the neural network from data collected off-site after successful fittings; and
means for entering fuzzy processing rules to said fuzzy logic processor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A neurofuzzy device is described that provides a fuzzy logic based user-machine interface for optimal fitting of programmable hearing prosthesis using a neural network that generates targets to be matched by the hearing prosthesis based on individual audiometric and other relevant data to the specific impairment and on the neural network accumulated learning from previous successful fittings. The incorporated learning process can occur on or off line and implements fitting rationales that can satisfy the needs of a general or specific clientele. The parameters of the programmable prosthetic device are set as a group in order to achieve optimal matching to the targets. The user-machine interface realized by a fuzzy logic system deciphers the commends/responses of the user while listening to various stimuli and modifies the targets accordingly thus, providing a closed loop system for in-situ interactive fitting.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An external programmer to be used with a separate programmable hearing aid, the external programmer comprising;
-
circuitry including a neural network for generating a set of hearing aid response defining parameters addressing at least one aspect of a user'"'"'s hearing impairment in at least one listening environment;
circuitry, coupled to the network for entering audiological and other relevant data that characterize aspects of the impairment and of the user;
a fuzzy logic processor incorporating rule generating commands for modifying the parameter set based on user-provided responses as a result of the user listening to pre-stored sound stimuli;
circuitry for downloading the parameter set to the separate hearing aid;
means for generating different prestored sound stimuli for the in situ evaluation of the performance of the hearing aid;
means for receiving the user responses to be used by the fuzzy logic processor;
means for the online retraining of the neural network after successful fittings;
means for the off-line retraining of the neural network from data collected off-site after successful fittings; and
means for entering fuzzy processing rules to said fuzzy logic processor.
-
-
2. An external programming device for use with a separate programmable hearing prosthesis that sets the operational characteristics of said prosthesis, said device comprising:
-
audible output circuitry for generating different prestored sound stimuli for the in situ evaluation of the performance of the hearing prosthesis;
input circuitry for receiving audiological and other relevant data that characterize aspects of the impairment and of the user, and user responses to the different sound stimuli;
neural network circuitry for generating initial operational characteristic values, based upon at least one aspect of the hearing impairment and at least one listening environment;
fuzzy logic circuitry incorporating rules generating commands for modifying said initial operational characteristic values based upon the user provided responses while listening to the different sound stimuli corresponding to the different sound environments;
a data processor optimizing the full set of operational characteristics for the separate programmable hearing prosthesis as a group;
coupling circuitry for downloading said operational characteristics to the separate hearing prosthesis;
neural network retraining circuitry for retraining on-line the neural network after successful fittings, and for retraining off-line the neural network from data collected for successful off site fittings; and
updating circuitry for updating the fuzzy processing rules of the fuzzy logic circuitry.
-
-
3. A fitting system for establishing a set of performance defining parameters for a separate, programmable hearing aid comprising:
-
a programmable processor;
neural network software, executable by the processor, for receiving patient information, including audiometric data and for implementing a neural network for producing a current set of parameters for the hearing aid;
circuitry, coupled to the programmed processor, for downloading the parameters to and programming the hearing aid;
circuitry for presenting pre-stored sound stimuli to the hearing aid for user evaluation of the performance of the hearing aid using the programmed parameters;
fuzzy logic software for receiving user feedback of the pre-stored sound stimuli and for modifying the current set of parameters forming an updated set of parameters that are downloaded to the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
-
-
6. A fitting system for programming a separate hearing aid comprising:
-
software executable by a processor for implementing neural network processing of user audiological data to produce a set of parameters for a predetermined programmable hearing aid;
circuitry for coupling the set of parameters to a programmable hearing aid to specify the performance thereof;
second software, executable by the processor for presenting pre-stored audio stimuli to the hearing aid circuitry for receipt of real-time feedback from the hearing aid user relative to the presented pre-stored audio stimuli;
third software executable by the processor for implementing fuzzy logic processing for responding to the user feedback to modify the parameters; and
software for downloading the modified parameters to the hearing aid thereby altering the characteristics thereof. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
Specification