A naukri.com initiative
Futurity
1M
157
Image Credit: Futurity
Algorithm could help solve hearing aids’ ‘cocktail party problem’
- A brain-inspired algorithm could help hearing aids eliminate interference and isolate single talkers in noisy environments.
- The 'cocktail party problem' refers to difficulties in focusing on specific conversations, especially for individuals with hearing loss.
- Boston University researchers developed an algorithm that significantly improved word recognition accuracy in testing.
- An estimated 50 million Americans have hearing loss, with a projected 2.5 billion globally by 2050.
- The new algorithm, known as BOSSA, mimics the brain's ability to filter sound sources based on spatial cues.
- This breakthrough could revolutionize the hearing aid market, especially with Apple entering with clinical-grade hearing aid functions.
- The algorithm's inspiration comes from the brain’s inhibitory neurons that help suppress unwanted sounds.
- Initial behavioral studies suggest significant benefits for individuals with hearing loss in noisy environments.
- The algorithm may have broader applications beyond hearing loss, potentially aiding individuals with ADHD or autism.
- Research support for this work came from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Demant Foundation.
Read Full Article
9 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app