Automated assessment and adjustment of tinnitus-masker impact on speech intelligibility during use

1. A method of using a tinnitus-masker device for a patient, the method comprising:

using a speech intelligibility model to compute a first speech intelligibility score without a tinnitus-masking therapy provided by the device and a second speech intelligibility score with the tinnitus masking therapy;

computing a difference between the first and second speech intelligibility scores; and

if the difference exceeds a programmable threshold, automatically adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device during use of the device to reduce the impact of the therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device on speech understanding of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting volume, spectral shape, or modulation rate of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising using the speech intelligibility model to compute adjustments of the parameters of the tinnitus-masker device during use.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein using a speech intelligibility model to predict impact of therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device on speech understanding of the patient includes using a proficiency factor incorporating a relationship between computed audibility of speech signals and predicted speech intelligibility.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein using a speech intelligibility model to predict impact of therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device on speech understanding of the patient includes estimating audibility of conversational speech in different frequency bands.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising using the estimated audibility of conversational speech to compute speech intelligibility scores with and without the therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising computing a corrected speech intelligibility score using a measured or estimated proficiency factor of the patient.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising comparing the corrected speech intelligibility score to a predefined threshold, and providing an option to a user to adjust the parameter of the tinnitus-masker device if the threshold is exceeded.

9. A tinnitus masking hearing device for a patient, the device comprising:

a sound generator configured to provide tinnitus masking therapy; and

a processor connected to the sound generator, the processor programmed with instructions to perform:

using a speech intelligibility model to compute a first speech intelligibility score for speech without a tinnitus masking therapy provided by the tinnitus masking hearing device;

using the speech intelligibility model to compute a second speech intelligibility score for speech with the tinnitus masking therapy provided by the tinnitus masking hearing device;

computing a difference between the first speech intelligibility score and the second speech intelligibility score; and

if the difference exceeds a programmable threshold, adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device to reduce the impact of the therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device on speech understanding of the patient.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes providing an option to a user of the device to adjust the parameter of the tinnitus-masker device.

11. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes automatically adjusting the parameter of the tinnitus-masker device.

12. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured with instructions to perform:

using an audiogram of the patient to compute at least one of the first and second speech intelligibility score.

13. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second speech intelligibility scores are computed at approximately 65 to 70 dB for normal conversational speech level.

14. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting volume of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

15. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting spectral shape of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

16. The fitting device of claim 9 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting modulation rate of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a tinnitus masking hearing device for a patient, the operations including:

using a speech intelligibility model to compute a first speech intelligibility score for speech without a tinnitus masking therapy provided by the tinnitus masking hearing device;

using the speech intelligibility model to compute a second speech intelligibility score for speech with the tinnitus masking therapy provided by the tinnitus masking hearing device;

computing a difference between the first speech intelligibility score and the second speech intelligibility score; and

if the difference exceeds a programmable threshold, adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device to reduce the impact of the therapy provided by the tinnitus-masker device on speech understanding of the patient.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting volume of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting spectral shape of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein adjusting a parameter of the tinnitus-masker device includes adjusting modulation rate of an output of the tinnitus-masker device.