Computer-Based Virtual Hearing Aid

描述（由申请人提供）：总体目标是开发一种更好，负担得起的助听器。此R24发展补助金申请的具体目标是准备一份研究补助金申请，该申请将为追求开发和评估这种改进型助听器的目标提供手段。为了准备一个可行的赠款建议，有必要证明所提出的方法的可行性。计算机模拟将用于开发虚拟助听器（VHA）;即，一个存在于计算机软件中的接口加上硬件接口，该硬件接口与实际助听器的输入和输出硬件非常相似（如果不是相同的话）。使用计算机模拟将允许快速和方便的实验VHA的发展。该仪器将用于探索开发更好，负担得起的助听器的不同方法。这些方法中最有希望的方法将是准备的赠款建议的重点。 公共卫生相关性：超过3600万美国人患有听力损失。听力损失对生活质量有很大的负面影响，包括严重的社会，心理，认知和一般健康问题。该项目旨在解决限制助听器有效性的问题。总体目标是开发更好的助听器，以改善听力损失患者的生活质量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective is to develop a better, affordable hearing aid. The specific objective of this R24 Developmental Grant application is to prepare a research grant application that will provide the means for pursuing the goal of developing and evaluating this improved hearing aid. In order to prepare a viable grant proposal it is necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed methods. Computer simulation will be used to develop a virtual hearing aid (VHA); i.e., one that exists in the software of a computer plus a hardware interface that is very similar, if not identical, to the input and output hardware of an actual hearing aid. The use of computer simulation will allow for the rapid and convenient development of an experimental VHA. This instrument will be used to explore different approaches to the development of a better, affordable hearing aid. The most promising of these approaches will be the focus of the grant proposal to be prepared. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: More than 36 million Americans have a hearing loss. Hearing loss has a substantial negative impact on quality of life, including significant social, psychological, cognitive and general health problems. This project addresses the problems limiting the effectiveness of hearing aids. The overall goal is to develop a better hearing aid to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss.