Hearing loss compensation apparatus and method using 3D equal loudness contour

A hearing loss compensation apparatus, comprising:

• a sound direction detection device configured to detect, using a microphone, a sound generation direction from which a sound is generated;
• and
• a sound compensation device configured to amplify the sound based on hearing characteristics of a user corresponding to the sound generation direction and comprising an equal loudness contour of the user, in response to detecting a difference between the equal loudness contour of the user and a reference equal loudness contour,
• wherein the equal loudness contour of the user is determined by mapping hearing thresholds corresponding to azimuths and frequencies,
• wherein the equal loudness contour of the user exists in 3D space comprising a first axis corresponding to the azimuths, a second axis corresponding the frequencies, and a third axis corresponding to the hearing thresholds,
• wherein the sound compensation device is further configured to determine the hearing characteristics of the user by comparing hearing abilities of the user at the azimuths and average hearing abilities of other users at the respective azimuths, and amplify the sound based on a characteristic, among the hearing characteristics of the user, that corresponds to an azimuth corresponding to the sound generation direction, and
• wherein the other users share a common demographic characteristic with the user.