# A Real-time, Open, Portable, Extensible Speech Lab

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $355,765

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Current efforts to improve speech intelligibility in hearing aids using signal processing algorithms are hampered
by the need to reinvent realtime processing tools across research labs. Intellectual property rights and
monetary considerations prevent the open sharing of processing tools from commercial companies and limit
the usefulness of commercially available hearing aids in research. As a result, many academic innovations
that could potentially improve hearing health care are not being tested and evaluated. Furthermore, when
closed, proprietary devices are used in academic research, it becomes difficult to assess the impact of the
findings when pertinent details of the subsystems in the signal processing pipeline are not known. In this
proposal, we aim to develop an open, reconfigurable, non-proprietary, wearable, realtime speech processing
system that uses processing and data collection approaches not available in existing hearing-aid technology
that Audiologists and hearing aid researchers will be able to easily use to investigate new hearing aid
algorithms in lab and field studies. Using novel speech processing algorithms, this open-access tool
specifically designed for audiologists and hearing aid researchers will help accelerate hearing health care
research studies and facilitate translation of technology advances into widespread clinical use.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999957
- **Project number:** 5R01DC015436-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Harinath Garudadri
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $355,765
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999957

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999957, A Real-time, Open, Portable, Extensible Speech Lab (5R01DC015436-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999957. Licensed CC0.

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