A Non-Uniform Digital Filter Bank Hearing Aid for Aged People with Hearing Disability

TLDR: In this article, a digital filter bank with non-uniform subbands was used to adjust the audiogram gain by referring to the particular audiogram. And the results have shown that the proposed method gives lower matching error values leading to an efficient hearing aid.

Abstract: A hearing once lost cannot be regained naturally. One of the solutions to this problem is using of Hearing Aids. In this paper we are mainly concentrating on the solution for hearing loss in aged people (presbycusis). High frequencies are mainly affected in Presbycusis. In this paper we are going to implement Digital Filter Banks with non-uniform subbands so that we can adjust the gains precisely by referring to the particular audiogram. Here we are going to choose narrow/wide bands if there is a large/narrow variance of intensity of hearing loss in a narrow/wide band variance. This helps in precise gain adjustment leading to a good audiogram matching and hence less matching error. This is a major advantage in treatment of Presbycusis as high frequencies are majorly affected than low frequencies. This process helps in reducing the number of bands which leads to low complexity and cost. Thus, we can achieve a low cost and efficient hearing aid for elderly people. Audiograms with different degrees of hearing loss (Mild, Moderate, Mild to moderate and Severe) are chosen, and matching error is compared between the existing methods, proposed uniform, and non-uniform digital filter banks. The results have shown that the proposed method gives lower matching error values leading to an efficient hearing aid.