Artificial intelligence and hearing aids

Answers by Casandra C. Wahl, Au.D., CCC-A at St. Cloud ENT

Question: How has Artificial Intelligence (AI) improved hearing aids? 

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common type of permanent hearing loss. It occurs due to damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve and can be a result of aging, noise exposure, certain medications or illness. People with SNHL often struggle to understand speech, especially in background noise, which can be frustrating and lead to social withdrawal or emotional distress. Typically, no surgical or medical intervention can correct SNHL; therefore, hearing aids are the recommended treatment.

Hearing aid technology has come a long way over the years. Despite these advancements, many hearing aids still struggle to help users hear and understand speech in the presence of background noise. With the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), hearing aids are becoming smarter and better at addressing patient needs in challenging environments. 

AI is a type of computer technology that helps machines learn and make decisions. It works by learning from patterns so that it can solve problems and make decisions, much like the human brain. In hearing aids, AI helps the devices pick out speech from background noise and adjust settings automatically to make listening easier and more natural. 

Within the category of AI, there is a subset of technology called deep neural networks (DNN). A DNN is a form of machine learning that works like a simplified version of the human brain by learning through repetitive action for a collection of samples, improving its performance with lots of practice! 

For example, a computer is given a piece of information, typically a type of sound. The computer then passes this sound through a DNN, where it can be analyzed, sorted into different categories and eventually classified. The DNN is given feedback on what it classified the sound as, which helps it recognize this sound in the future. This process is done over and over again until the computer can recognize the sound instantly. Just like the human brain, a DNN, with repeated exposure, is able to immediately identify different sounds. 

A DNN can be trained with millions of different sounds. This type of training in hearing aids can help the devices tell the difference between speech and background noise. In a challenging environment, like a noisy restaurant, a trained DNN can help enhance speech, reduce background noise and adapt to changing sounds—all in real-time. 

AI and DNNs have allowed hearing aids to become smarter and more adaptable. However, these are just tools to assist, not replace, professional care. Regular checkups and adjustments by your audiologist are still key for getting the most out of your hearing aids. 

Find out more

If you are interested in learning more about AI technology in hearing aids, please call St. Cloud ENT at (320) 252-0233 and schedule a visit with one of our audiologists.

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