PANASONIC is now developing a new technology for fitting hearing aids, using brain waves to automatically adjust sound levels.
The Panasonic development will estimate the loudest level of sound the user can comfortably tolerate, by interpreting the electro electroencephalogram (EEG) brain wave patterns recorded during a sound test.
This will reduce the strain on users and the time required to fit hearing aids.
Panasonic started clinical evaluation of this method in cooperation with the University of Fukui, with an aim to put it into practice as an automatic volume level fitting system for hearing aids in 2015.
The perception of loudness differs from person to person and the acceptable sound volume limit depends on each person. Hearing aids must be tuned to meet these needs.
The maximum sound volume is an important key factor for hearing aid fitting. The conventional method for adjusting volumes in the hearing aid fitting process uses the minimum volume hearing threshold level to calculate the maximum sound level.
Traditionally, the process has been one of trial-and-error, requiring users to go through a loudness test. This was stressful and not very accurate.
Using the new method, the maximum volume level for each user can be estimated objectively based on the EEG response to auditory stimuli, normal volume sound, in a short time and with a high degree of accuracy (a margin of error: +/-5 dB).
Panasonic to read brain waves to automatically tune hearing aids Electronics News
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