ITU Workshop on
“Making Media Accessible to all:
The options and the economics”
(Geneva, Switzerland, 24 (p.m.) – 25 October 2013)
Wireless connections for hearing aids
Dr. Marcel Vlaming,
Technical Coordinator
European Hearing Instrument
Manufacturers Association (EHIMA)
mv@ehima.com
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
Topics of presentation
Hearing loss and hearing aids
Hearing aid connectivity: Today
Hearing aid connectivity
Today
Requirements for near future wireless
Market drivers
Scenario/Roadmap
Summary
2
Prevalence of hearing loss / use of
hearing aids
Hearing impairment is loss of auditive
communication:
Soft sounds not audible
High frequency sounds not audible
High sensitivity to background noises reducing speech
understanding
About 10% of population have hearing problems
Demographic with age
15-40% of people with hearing loss in developed
countries have hearing aids 1)
depending on prosperity and funding schemes
about 50 million hearing aid users world-wide
1)
Eurotrak: http://www.anovum.com/en/case-studies
3
What hearing aids do
Main hearing aid functions:
Amplification
Soft sounds;
Sound compression for restoring loudness of sounds
(soft, normal, loud)
Spectral compensation
In relation to audiogram: upto 8 kHz (in future up to 12 kHz)
Suppression of background noise
Speech enhancement
Direct connectivity to media sources:
cable, T-coil, FM, infra-red, hubs, …..
Offered as needed…….
4
Types of hearing aids
5
Hearing aid connectivity
Direct connectivity to audio source
Avoids interference from background noises
Hearing impaired persons are extra vulnerable to noise
Older people are extra vulnerable to loss of attention and
concentration
Use cases:
Private: Phone, TV, Audio, Tablet/PC, …..
Education: schools
Public: theatres, churches, points of sale …………..
Public announcements: stations, airports, public events, etc
Solutions
T-coil, FM, media gateways
Future technologies: wireless
6
Hearing aid connectivity: Today - 1
Magnetic induction loop (T-coil)
Pros
Exists since hearing aids are available
Promoted in some countries
Mostly found at: churches and points of sales
Sometimes also used at home for TV and audio
Hearing Aid Compliance for mobile phones to implement
magentic coil (USA: FCC)
Cons
Magnetic interferences from electrical devices
Limited sound quality (BW < 3500 Hz, mono)
High installation costs in buildings
Limited range (inside loop only)
Limited availability: some countries, some places,…..
7
Hearing aid connectivity: Today - 2
FM systems (Assisting Listening Devices, ALDs):
Pros
Mostly found at schools (professional equipment)
Also used at homes: TV and wireless microphone
Cons
No worldwide frequencies (will not work in other countries)
Radio interferences (limited # channels, no hopping, etc.)
FM transmitters not found at public places
Therefore: low acceptance
8
Hearing aid connectivity: Today - 3
Wireless media gateways:
Hub to connect with phone through Bluetooth
Acts as a bridge of HA radio system to Bluetooth radio
Pros
Good quality sound
Bluetooth gives standard connectivity to mobile phones and
other sound devices
Cons
Must be worn around neck or at body
Interferences on Bluetooth link possible
2.4 GHz ISM band: WiFi, other Bluetooth devices, other devices
No public access defined so far
Short range (5-15 m)
No universal standard agreed for bridge HA radio system (inductive radios)
Is a temporary solution
9
Wireless media gateway
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
10
Problems for hearing aid connectivity
Todays pitfalls
T-coil systems have limited quality, very
limited range, limited availability, high
installation costs
FM systems have no worldwide fequencies,
have problems on radio interference.
Hub based systems with Bluetooth need extra
body device and have limited range. Is a
temporary solution.
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
11
Requirements future wireless
connectivity for hearing aids
Need to be integrated in HAs, no extra body device
High demands on hearing aid battery and size
Can be used worldwide
Worldwide spectrum for global use required
Have no or low radio interference
Low in/out band interferences
Can be used personally, at home, at schools, at
public places (church, theatre, station, shops, ..)
Range: 1 m to 50 m.
Good acceptance:
Worldwide standard, worldwide spectrum
easy installation, easy use, low costs.
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
12
Market Drivers
Increasing legislation requires accessibility for hearing aids:
mobile phone: need to find an alternative to T-Coil in mobile phones for
cost and size reasons
public places: Churches, theatres, points of sale, ……
What about: stations, airports…….
Growing number of potential users, because of:
Aging population
Increased expectations
Increased spending power
Greater familiarity with technology
Increasing percentage of population requiring integration with their
existing mobile and music technology
Desire from many sectors not to disadvantage the hearing
impaired
Because of social concerns
Because of market opportunity
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Scenario / Roadmap
What
How
Pros
Threads
When
Available
spectrum
2.4 GHz ISM
•
available
•
•
•
congestion
interference
out band interf.
2014
New
worldwide
spectrum
ITU, CEPT,
WRC-2018
•
low
interference
protection for
accessibilty use
•
•
•
out band interf.
slow process
many
stakeholders
20182020
One
Standard
•
•
•
worldwide
Bluetooth like
proprietary
•
Enables public
wireless
•
•
slow
waits spectrum
2018
Legislation
on
Accessibility
USA: HAC (FCC)
EU: directives
•
creates
awareness and
demand
harmonization
of technology
•
•
•
costs
timing
may block
innovations
Now 2018
(5.6 GHz not
suitable?)
•
•
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
14
Summary
Fifty million hearing aid users
Need for wireless connectivity
For speech understanding without background noise
Domestic, Public places, Schools, Entertainment (music), …
Currently different technologies
T-coil, FM-systems, multi-media hubs
Issues: quality, interference, costs, size in hearing aid
Availability: From domestic to (all) public places
Required:
Worldwide availability: one standard
Worldwide radio spectrum: ITU/CEPT/FCC/WWRC
Very small size: chips, antenna, battery: technology
Reducing costs: installation, hearing aids (chip integration)
Geneva, Switzerland, 24 October 2013
15
Questions?
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