HEARING LOSS AND PROSTHESIS SIMULATOR

听力损失和假肢模拟器

• 批准号: 6782710
• 负责人: Patrick M. Zurek
• 金额: $ 33.61万
• 依托单位: SENSIMETRICS CORPORATION
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-05-01 至 2005-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6782710
• 关键词: bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical equipment development; clinical research; cochlear implants; computer system hardware; ear /hearing prosthesis; educational resource design /development; electronic stimulator; hearing aids; hearing disorders; human subject; miniature biomedical equipment; noise; portable biomedical equipment; sound perception

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed work is a system that simulates the auditory-perceptual effects of hearing loss in combination with hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other auditory prostheses. This simulator will be completely wearable for use in everyday settings without occupying hands or eyes. It will be computer-programmable to allow for extensive changes of system characteristics. It will be a binaural system, with loss and prosthesis characteristics independently specifiable for the left and right channels, and it will provide simple controls so that the user can switch among several loss and prosthesis settings. The eventual goal is to make the simulator available at moderate cost (approximately $700) for the following applications: training audiologists and educators of the deaf; demonstrations in hearing-conservation and public education programs; demonstrations for families of hearing-impaired and deaf persons; demonstrations for prospective hearing aid users; and as a research tool. The work in Phase I developed the core DSP technology for the system and demonstrated the feasibility of a hybrid threshold shift method that uses passive attenuation, masking noise, and automatic gain control to enable accurate simulation of hearing losses as large as 100 dB for a user immersed in a sound field. Proposed work in Phase II will refine the hardware and signal-processing components of the system, improve ergonomic aspects of the system, develop a user interface, and deliver prototype systems for field evaluations by collaborators involved in professional training, aural rehabilitation/counseling, and hearing conservation.

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议工作的目标是一种结合助听器、人工耳蜗或其他听觉假体来模拟听力损失的听觉-知觉效应的系统。这个模拟器将完全可穿戴在日常环境中使用，而不需要占用手或眼睛。它将是计算机可编程的，以允许系统特性的广泛变化。它将是一个双耳系统，左声道和右声道的损失和假体特性可独立指定，它将提供简单的控制，以便用户可以在几个损失和假体设置之间切换。最终目标是以适中的成本(约700美元)提供模拟器，用于以下应用：培训听力学专家和聋人教育工作者；演示听力保护和公共教育方案；为听力受损和聋人的家庭进行演示；为潜在的助听器用户进行演示；以及作为研究工具。第一阶段的工作为系统开发了核心的DSP技术，并证明了混合阈值移位方法的可行性，该方法使用无源衰减、掩蔽噪声和自动增益控制，使沉浸在声场中的用户能够准确模拟高达100分贝的听力损失。第二阶段的拟议工作将完善系统的硬件和信号处理部件，改进系统的人体工程学方面，开发用户界面，并提供原型系统，供参与专业培训、听力康复/咨询和听力保护的合作者进行实地评估。