Canceling Crosstalk Sound in Bone Conduction Hearing: An Accelerometer-Based Approach.

Abstract

Bone conduction hearing aids offer a unique solution for people with conductive hearing loss, providing a direct transmission of sound to the cochlea. However, a common issue called "crosstalk" can occur, where sound intended for one ear is received by the opposite ear via bone conduction, affecting the ability to localize sound sources and understand speech in noise. To address this issue, we investigated whether canceling "crosstalk" at an accelerometer located on the mastoid would create a "quiet zone" that reaches the cochlea in the inner ear. Our evaluation with individuals having normal hearing abilities showed that their hearing thresholds were improved with crosstalk cancellation than without. These results indicate that although designed to cancel "crosstalk" at the mastoid, the cancellation still reached the cochlea, making it perceptible and potentially beneficial for those with conductive hearing loss.