Previous examination procedures in the laboratory are not considered to be very close to everyday life, and alternative field tests with hearing aids using questionnaires in everyday life are difficult to reproduce. Language tests in audiology often work with isolated words or artificially constructed sentences. But how realistic are such tests when it comes to understanding conversations in a busy environment?
Everyday life in the laboratory: A new approach
As part of AHEVA, a new language test was developed that is based on everyday dialogues. Instead of individual words, language comprehension is measured using key words in the context of realistic conversations. A central innovation component: the language used is generated synthetically by artificial intelligence. Their quality is now so high that they can hardly be distinguished from real voice recordings.
Virtual reality meets hearing research
The German Hearing Aid Institute (DHI) co-finances the AHEVA project and participates actively and in an advisory capacity in the processing of the work packages. In an initial pilot study, the researchers were able to show that this AI-generated language, embedded in a cafeteria environment simulated in 3D, was perceived by test subjects as realistic.
Could hearing aids be adapted more precisely to individual everyday situations in the future? This is exactly where the research comes in and the results are clear: people with normal hearing achieve a high level of speech understanding under defined conditions, people with hearing loss without hearing aids perform significantly worse and with an adapted hearing aid fitting, speech understanding improves significantly.
This succeeds in the so-called Proof of concept: Everyday situations can be realistically simulated in the laboratory and the benefits of hearing aids can be measured.
What does this mean for those affected? A look ahead
The results of the project are currently being presented at national and international conferences. Among other things, in Paris, at the national audiology conference in Oldenburg and planned in August at the international hearing aid developer conference in Canada.
More realistic tests create the basis for better care and a better quality of life. In addition to the cafeteria, other everyday test scenarios have already been developed. Including an open-plan office and a live concert with appropriate dialogues. Although good hearing begins in the laboratory, it is particularly evident in real life and means participation in everyday life.