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Amplification and Assistive Devices (AAD)

Do our ears move when listening? Evaluating a hearing‑aid denoising network with auricular muscle EMG

PP419 - Do Our Ears Move When Listening? Evaluating a Hearing‑Aid Denoising Network with Auricular Muscle EMG

POSTERS

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Lead Presenter(s)

Jason Galster, PhD

Vice President of Clinical Research
Sonova Group
Aurora, Illinois

Disclosure(s): Financial - Sonova: Employment (Ongoing); Nonfinancial - No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

Contributor(s)

FC

Farah Corona-Strauss, PhD

Saarland University & htw saar
Homburg/Saar, Saarland, Germany

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
DS

Daniel Strauss, PhD

Saarland University & htw saar
Homburg/Saar, Saarland, Germany

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
AS

Andreas Schroeer, PhD Student

Systems Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University & School of Engineering, htw saar
Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Abstract: Ear movements play a vital role for many animals, focusing attention and localizing sound sources. In comparison, the human ear remains largely static. Nevertheless, remnants of the orienting ear movement system persist in our brains. Recent research has demonstrated that the activity of the superior auricular muscle differentiates between challenging and less demanding auditory tasks using the electromyography method. For the first time, this measure was utilized to objectively evaluate the influence of an AI-powered denoising network in hearing aids on listening effort.

Summary: Ear movements play a vital role for many animals, focusing attention and localizing sound sources. In comparison, the human ear remains largely static. Nevertheless, remnants of the orienting ear movement system persist as a "neural fossil" in our brains, preserved for approximately 25 million years within our evolutionary lineage. Recent research has demonstrated that the activity of the superior auricular muscle (SAM), as part of this “neural fossil”, in individuals with normal hearing distinctly differentiates between challenging and less demanding auditory tasks using the electromyography method.

For the first time, this measure was used to objectively evaluate the influence of an AI-powered denoising network in hearing aids on listening effort: 30 test subjects listened to interesting immersive podcasts while electrodes in bipolar configuration recorded the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the SAM and PAM (posterior auricular muscles) muscle groups. Motivation was consistently maintained due to the engaging listening task. Meanwhile, the AI-based denoising network was randomly switched on and off, and the difference in the EMG activity was compared as study endpoints.

The results show that the denoising network significantly decreased SAM activity (network OFF vs. network ON). This suggests that auditory relief diminishes the need to "prick up" the ears when using the denoising network. These objective results are in line with the subjective measures collected. The data are also clinically relevant due to the large effect size.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participants will be able to explain the function of mammalian and more specifically human superior auricular muscles.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe listening benefits of an AI-based denoising network as implemented in a hearing aid.
Upon completion, participants will be able to explain how activity of the human superior auricular muscles relates to changes in listening engagement and effort.