Feedback path variability modeling for robust hearing aids

Acoustic feedback is a common problem in hearing aids with vented earmolds. Hearing aids designed to work under normal conditions become unstable when the feedback path varies under changing conditions. A comprehensive study of the variability of the feedback path under various conditions and for different users is presented in this paper. A multiplicative uncertainty bound widely used in H-infinity robust control is suggested to model the variations, which is then used to formulate a robust stability condition for the hearing aid. The upper limit of the closed-loop acoustic gain of the hearing aid for maintaining robust stability is also derived. Examples of robust constant amplification hearing aids, which maintain stability in the face of the given variations in the feedback path, are presented. The robust stability condition is also suggested as a tool to design more robust digital hearing aids. (C) 2000 Acoustical Society of America.