An Open-source Speech Processing Platform (OSP) for Research on Hearing Loss and Related Disorders

摘要 听力损失（HL）是一种无形的残疾，影响着全球3.6亿人， 达到的后果，包括生活质量下降，福尔斯的风险增加，认知能力下降，但只有 三分之一的HL患者拥有助听器（HA）。尽管听力损失患者有着强烈的愿望和需求， 社会上对于质量好、价格实惠的助听器来说，专有的“黑箱”性质的商用助听器是一大难题。 阻碍听力学研究取得突破，改善助听器技术，并将其转化为 供听力受损人士使用。出于对商业HA设备替代品的需求， 在听力学研究方面，Nadi团队开发了用于听力的开源语音处理平台（OSP） 援助研究和开发，这有可能弥合听力学研究和 HL技术的商业化，以及促进心理物理学研究超越可行性 今天OSP包括多个实时主助听器算法（MHA）和嵌入式Web服务器 托管板载应用程序（可通过任何支持浏览器的设备（如智能手机、平板电脑或PC）访问）， 助听器的保养和维护OSP硬件包括基于智能手机的可穿戴处理器 芯片组和耳后耳道接收器（BTE-RIC）形状因子耳级组件。 OSP系统的可行性在实验室和现场都得到了证实， 自我适应拟议的直接第二阶段项目将通过临床测试验证该平台， 这将为OSP硬件和软件支持的制造包的开发提供信息 使用OSP进行听力学研究的基础设施。OSP软件，包括听力学研究工具（目标1） 和结果评估工具（目标2），将通过测量辅助语音感知结果进行验证， 安静和嘈杂的环境，成人HL。这将确定OSP在以下条件下用于临床研究的有效性 现实条件。此外，生态瞬时评估（EMA）工具（目标3）将使用以下方法进行验证： 完善的软件测试程序，确保操作的正确性。硬件版本和敏捷 基于用户反馈的软件开发将产生一套丰富的算法，包括多个MHA， 用于HL研究人员和听众控制MHA的应用程序，用于评估结果的自动化工具，以及 在现场进行EMA调查。该项目将由一个强大的跨学科团队进行， 在系统设计和信号处理，产品开发和支持，软件 建筑、硬件制造和听力学。该项目的成功将导致一套有效的 开源HA研究工具，使研究人员能够研究各种信号之间的相互作用 处理功能，进行心理物理研究，不可能与目前的工具，并产生证据- 基于解决方案，以增加获得听力保健的机会。

ABSTRACT Hearing loss (HL) is an invisible disability affecting 360 million people worldwide that can have far- reaching consequences, including reduced quality of life, increased risk of falls, and cognitive decline, yet only one in three individuals with HL owns a hearing aid (HA). Despite a strong desire and need in the hearing loss community for quality, affordable hearing aids, the proprietary “black box” nature of commercial HAs is a major obstacle to achieving breakthroughs in audiology research, improving hearing aid technology, and translating it to use by hearing impaired individuals. Motived by the need for alternatives to commercial HA devices for audiology research, the Nadi team developed the Open-source Speech Processing Platform (OSP) for hearing aid research and development, which has the potential to bridge the gap between audiology research and commercialization of HL technologies, as well as promote psychophysical research beyond what is feasible today. OSP comprises multiple real-time master hearing aid algorithms (MHAs) and an embedded web server that hosts onboard apps (accessible by any browser-enabled device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or a PC) to monitor and control hearing aid operation. OSP hardware includes a wearable processor based on smartphone chipsets and behind-the-ear, receiver-in-the-canal (BTE-RIC) form factor ear-level assemblies. The feasibility of the OSP system was demonstrated in the lab and the field for both audiologist-fitting and self-fitting. The proposed direct Phase II project will validate the platform with clinical testing, the results of which will inform development of a manufacturing package for OSP hardware and a software support infrastructure for audiology research using OSP. The OSP software, including audiology research tools (Aim 1) and outcome assessment tools (Aim 2), will be validated by measuring aided speech perception outcomes in quiet and noisy environments for adults with HL. This will establish the validity of OSP for clinical research under realistic conditions. In addition, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) tools (Aim 3) will be validated using well established software test procedures for correctness of operation. The hardware revisions and Agile software development based on user feedback will result in a rich suite of algorithms, including multiple MHAs, apps for both researchers and listeners with HL to control MHAs, automated tools to assess outcomes, and tools to administer EMA surveys in the field. This project will be conducted by a strong interdisciplinary team comprised of investigators in systems design and signal processing, product development and support, software architecture, hardware manufacturing, and audiology. The success of this project will lead to a validated set of open-source HA research tools that will allow researchers to investigate the interactions among various signal processing functions, undertake psychophysical research not possible with current tools, and generate evidence- based solutions to increase access to hearing healthcare.