Method and system for self-managed sound enhancement

摘要

A system and method are provided for capturing hearing characteristics from self-administered hearing tests, including loudness tolerance levels at different sound frequencies, as an individualized shaped auditory profile for automatically enhancing audio to complement and address as closely as possible an individual's hearing deficits experienced via a particular signal pathway, the signal pathway including the audio device used to administer the test, the sound environment, and the user's hearing capabilities. The user may self-administer a hearing test on a convenient personal apparatus, such as a smartphone. The shaped auditory profile may then be used to produce enhanced sound subsequently transmitted to the individual via the same signal pathway. In certain of its aspects, the invention is useful for any individual seeking an enhanced hearing experience, whether having hearing within normal range or hearing that is impaired.

主权项

1. A system for enhancing an individual's hearing experience comprising:
a testing component for capturing the individual's audio hearing characteristics for a test signal pathway, the test signal pathway comprising elements that transform an input test electronic signal into a perceived audio signal, including a transducer of a test audio device that transforms an input test electronic signal into an output test audio signal, the sound environment in which the individual hears the output test audio signal, and the individual's hearing capabilities; an analyzing component for analyzing a plurality of audio hearing characteristics of the individual for the test signal pathway to generate a shaped auditory profile, said audio hearing characteristics of the individual for the test signal pathway including a frequency-specific minimum audible loudness level for at least one frequency transmitted to the individual via the test signal pathway and a frequency-specific threshold uncomfortable loudness level for at least one frequency transmitted to the individual via the test signal pathway; a pathway identification component for determining when a listening signal pathway is similar to the test signal pathway, and an enhancement component for selectively applying at least one frequency specific gain adjustment determined by said shaped auditory profile to enhance audio perceived by an individual in response to another input electronic signal transmitted to the individual when said listening signal pathway is similar to the test signal pathway.