Assessing the Impact of Bluetooth Headphones on EEG-Based Binaural Hearing Testing

Binaural hearing allows individuals to identify the location of a sound source around them. It is a complex process involving several brain regions that enables individuals to attend to a target source while disregarding other sources such as background noise and competing talkers. Studies have identified a decline in binaural hearing ability in patients suffering from cognitive decline. To analyze this correlation, a suitable measurement setup is needed. This paper proposes a portable binaural hearing system that can be used in healthcare facilities. The proposed system uses Bluetooth (BT) headphones and electroencephalography (EEG), avoiding the need for purpose-built soundproof room. To this end, we build on our previous instrumentation work that demonstrated that binaural hearing tests can be performed using headphones and a head-related transfer function, rather than a set of discrete speakers in a soundproof room. This paper assesses three potential sources of artifacts on the EEG signal: physical interaction between the headphones and the EEG leads, EM interference from the headphones' speakers, and BT interference. Our results indicate that the artifacts from BT headsets on the EEG signal are minimal and that the proposed setup including BT headphones and EEG is feasible.