Hearing aids controlled by world first thought

Scientists successfully developed the world's first thought-controlled hearing aid, helping deaf people to distinguish voices in noisy spaces.

By monitoring brain activity, hearing aids amplify the sound of the listener depending on the object they focus on. This is especially useful when listeners attend crowded exchange events with lots of noise.

Accordingly, when the user talks, the speaker's volume will be increased if the listener pays attention to them.

Universal hearing aids still have many shortcomings that hinder deaf people from integrating into society - (Photo: Alamy Stock Photo).

Whereas universal hearing aids amplify all the sounds around the non-selective listener, regardless of the noise or the speaker's voice, making it difficult for the user to focus on the opponent's words. , leading to influence on the ability to communicate and socialize.

"The part of the brain that handles sound is very sensitive and healthy. It can increase the volume of speech easily, while hearing aids today are still helpless for this," said Nima Mesgarani, the leader of the research team. Columbia University in New York, confirmed to The Guardian .

The noise problem of hearing aids has long been noticed by scientists. However, no research group has found a solution until Columbia University's team combined artificial intelligence (AI) and a sensor that measures the listener's brain activity.

First, the device has an algorithm to separate each person's voice, then compare these voices to the behavior of the listener's brain to know who is being noticed. Accordingly, the voice of the attention will be amplified.

However, to use this device, patients still have to undergo a transplant surgery to monitor brain activity. Therefore, it cannot become a universal support device.

The team believes that in the next 5 years, a hearing aid will be developed with similar capabilities but does not require surgery. They suggest developing a device that measures brain activity in the ear or under the scalp.

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