Challenges and Recent Developments in Hearing Aids

Chung, Ki Sup

doi:10.1177/108471380400800402

Cited by 60 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…For open-canal acoustic hearing aids, the options for microphone placement and the amount of available amplification are limited by how much sound from the speaker gets fed back into the microphone (7). The TM does not function as a very efficient loudspeaker, particularly at higher frequencies when its surface breaks up into modes and it generates evanescent sound waves in the ear canal that become attenuated in the far field (3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal-Bone Measurements of the Maximum Equivalent Pressure Output and Maximum Stable Gain of a Light-Driven Hearing System That Mechanically Stimulates the Umbo

Puria

Maria²,

Perkins

2016

Otology &Amp; Neurotology

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Hypothesis That maximum equivalent pressure output (MEPO) and maximum stable gain (MSG) measurements demonstrate high output and high gain margins in a Light Driven Hearing System (Earlens). Background The non-surgical Earlens consists of a light-activated balanced-armature Tympanic Lens (Lens) to drive the middle ear through direct umbo contact. The Lens is driven and powered by encoded pulses of light. In comparison to conventional hearing aids, the Earlens is designed to provide higher levels of output over a broader frequency range and a significantly higher MSG with the MEPO providing an important fitting guideline. Methods Four fresh human cadaver temporal bones were used to measure MEPO directly. To calculate MEPO and MSG, we measured the pressure close to the eardrum and stapes velocity for sound drive and light drive using the Earlens. Results The baseline sound-driven measurements are consistent with previous reports. The average MEPO (N=4) varies from 116 to 128 dB SPL in the 0.7 to 10 kHz range, with the peak occurring at 7.6 kHz. From 0.1–0.7 kHz, it varies from 83 to 121 dB SPL. For the average MSG, a broad minimum of about 10 dB occurs in the 1–4 kHz range, above which it rises as high as 42 dB at 7.6 kHz. From 0.2 to 1 kHz, the MSG decreases linearly from about 40 dB to 10 dB. Conclusion With high output and high gain margins, the Earlens may offer broader spectrum amplification for treatment of mild to severe hearing impairment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal-Bone Measurements of the Maximum Equivalent Pressure Output and Maximum Stable Gain of a Light-Driven Hearing System That Mechanically Stimulates the Umbo

Puria

Maria²,

Perkins

2016

Otology &Amp; Neurotology

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“…The former makes the hearing aid more visible and the latter increases the occlusion effect. The occlusion effect can be reduced by adding vents to allow sounds trapped in the ear canal to escape (Chung 2004). However, these vents reduce the attenuation between the microphone and the speaker and therefore feedback is more likely to occur, reducing the level of amplification that can be applied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A micro-drive hearing aid: a novel non-invasive hearing prosthesis actuator

Paulick

Merlo

Mahboubi

et al. 2014

Biomed Microdevices

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The direct hearing device (DHD) is a new auditory prosthesis that combines conventional hearing aid and middle ear implant technologies into a single device. The DHD is located deep in the ear canal and recreates sounds with mechanical movements of the tympanic membrane. A critical component of the DHD is the microactuator, which must be capable of moving the tympanic membrane at frequencies and magnitudes appropriate for normal hearing, with little distortion. The DHD actuator reported here utilized a voice coil actuator design and was 3.7 mm in diameter. The device has a smoothly varying frequency response and produces a precisely controllable force. The total harmonic distortion between 425 Hz and 10 kHz is below 0.5% and acoustic noise generation is minimal. The device was tested as a tympanic membrane driver on cadaveric temporal bones where the device was coupled to the umbo of the tympanic membrane. The DHD successfully recreated ossicular chain movements across the frequencies of human hearing while demonstrating controllable magnitude. Moreover, the micro-actuator was validated in a short-term human clinical performance study where sound matching and complex audio waveforms were evaluated by a healthy subject.

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“…A common solution for the occlusion effect is to add a vent to the ear mold to allow the sounds trapped in the ear canal to escape [7]. The vent, however, reduces the attenuation from the speaker to the microphone and increases the likelihood of feedback [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, patients generally do not desire to wear larger hearing aids due to their appearance and attached stigma. Although digital feedback management techniques can be applied, the state-of-the-art feedback management algorithms have been reported to lead to signal degradation [7]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of a Novel Completely-in-the-Canal Direct-Drive Hearing Device

Mahboubi¹,

Paulick²,

Kiumehr³

et al. 2013

Otology &Amp; Neurotology

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Hypothesis Whether a prototype direct-drive hearing device (DHD) is effective in driving the tympanic membrane (TM) in a temporal bone specimen to enable it to potentially treat moderate to severe hearing loss. Background Patient satisfaction with air conduction hearing aids has been low due to sound distortion, occlusion effect, and feedback issues. Implantable hearing aids provide a higher quality sound, but require surgery for placement. The DHD was designed to combine the ability of driving the ossicular chain with placement in the external auditory canal. Methods DHD is a 3.5 mm wide device that could fit entirely into the bony ear canal and directly drive the TM rather than use a speaker. A cadaveric temporal bone was prepared. The device developed in our laboratory was coupled to the external surface of the TM and against the malleus. Frequency sweeps between 300 Hz to 12 kHz were performed in two different coupling methods at 104 and 120 dB, and the DHD was driven with various levels of current. Displacements of the posterior crus of the stapes were measured using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer. Results The DHD showed a linear frequency response from 300Hz to 12kHz. Placement against the malleus showed higher amplitudes and lower power requirements than when the device was placed on the TM. Conclusions DHD is a small completely-in-the-canal device that mechanically drives the TM. This novel device has a frequency output wider than most air conduction devices. Findings of the current study demonstrated that the DHD had the potential of being incorporated into a hearing aid in the future.

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Challenges and Recent Developments in Hearing Aids

Cited by 60 publications

References 34 publications

Temporal-Bone Measurements of the Maximum Equivalent Pressure Output and Maximum Stable Gain of a Light-Driven Hearing System That Mechanically Stimulates the Umbo

Temporal-Bone Measurements of the Maximum Equivalent Pressure Output and Maximum Stable Gain of a Light-Driven Hearing System That Mechanically Stimulates the Umbo

A micro-drive hearing aid: a novel non-invasive hearing prosthesis actuator

Investigation of a Novel Completely-in-the-Canal Direct-Drive Hearing Device

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