1439 results about "Electrophonic hearing" patented technology

The invention relates to a listening assistance device (1) comprising hearing modules (3) mounted on the ends of the arms of an eyeglass frame (2), said modules being designed to support the eyeglass frame on the ear of the user. The hearing modules also have a formed part (5) which extends into the auditive canal without closing the latter and which includes the sound outlet hole (6) of the module. The modules comprise a speech spectrum frequency response and linear dynamics in order to improve speech intelligibility. This makes it possible to provide a listening assistance device compensating for mild hearing loss that can be produced easily and economically, is more comfortable to use and is not regarded at first sight as a hearing aid by an observer.

A method of generating a personalized sound system hearing profile for a user. The method begins by selecting an initial profile, based on selected factors of user input. In an embodiment, the initial profile is selected based on demographic factors. Then the system identifies one or more alternate profiles, each having a selected relationship with the initial profile. The relationship between alternate profiles and the initial profile can be based on gain as a function of frequency, one alternate profile having a higher sensitivity at given frequencies and the other a lower sensitivity. The next step links at least one audio sample with the initial and alternate profiles and then plays the selected samples for the user. The system then receives identification of the preferred sample from the user; and selects a final profile based on the user's preference. An embodiment offers multiple sound samples in different modes, resulting in the selection of multiple final profiles for the different modes. Finally, the system may apply the final profile to the sound system.

Hearing assist devices and devices and services that are capable of providing external operational support thereto are described. In accordance with various embodiments, the performance of one or more functions by a hearing assist device is assisted or improved in some manner by utilizing resources of an external device and/or service to which the hearing assist device may be communicatively connected. Such performance assistance or improvement may be achieved, for example and without limitation, by utilizing power resources, processing resources, storage resources, sensor resources, and/or user interface resources of an external device or service to which the hearing assist device may be communicatively connected.

A hearing system (1) capable of assisting a user of the hearing system (1) to find a location where satisfactory hearing performance is achievable is described. The hearing system (1) comprises at least one hearing device (11, 12) with an input transducer (20), an output transducer (40), and a processing unit (30) operatively connected to the input transducer (20) as well as to the output transducer (40). The hearing system (1) further comprises a first means (50) for determining from a signal of the input transducer (20) at least one parameter (60) representative of a current acoustic environment at a current location, and a second means (40, 200, 201) for indicating to a user of the hearing system (1) a degree of suitability of the current location to achieve satisfactory hearing performance based on the at least one parameter (60).

A system for treating patients affected both by hearing loss and by balance disorders related to vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source, and an implantable electrical stimulator capable of stimulating areas of the cochlea and areas of the vestibular system.

A test battery method and system (10, 100, 200, 225) for use in assessing auditory function (e.g., the screening or diagnosis of impairments, fitting of hearing aids, etc.) is provided which performs one or more auditory tests including, for example, an acoustic reflectance test. Such an acoustic reflectance test may be a reflectance tympanometry test that includes a feedback system to control static pressure in the ear canal. Such acoustic reflectance tests may be used alone or in combination with one or more other auditory tests. Further, for example, such a battery of tests may include middle-ear muscle reflex tests in combination with one or more other auditory or hearing tests.

Devices, systems and methods that comprise or utilize implantable electrode arrays for neural stimulation and/or sensing. In some embodiments, the electrode array is implanted or inserted into the auditory nerve and is used to deliver electrical impulses to/receive data from the auditory nerve in the treatment of hearing disorders.

The hearing device comprises an ear-piece (1) which is designed to be worn at least partially in an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The ear-piece (1) comprises a vent passage (3) connecting the ear canal with the atmosphere. The vent passage (3) has an inner opening (8) towards the ear-canal and an outer opening (9) towards the atmosphere. The ear-piece (1) further comprises a vent extension (4). The vent extension (4) is a protrusion extending the vent passage (3) beyond the body (2) of the ear-piece (1). The vent extension (4) is adapted for abutting on a surface of the body of the user and is thereby inconspicuous and/or contributes thereby to retention. A method for manufacturing such a hearing device is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for providing musical training is disclosed. The method/apparatus allows a user to practice voice lessons, ear training lessons, songs, and/or various musical instruments that rely on good pitch perception (such as a violin or a brass instrument). The method/apparatus displays a sequence of music notes to the user via a combination of conventional music staffs (such as a grand staff) and instances of a pitch-based representation. The method/apparatus also displays the accuracy of the user in hitting notes, the quality of his/her tone if supported, changes to his/her vocal range if desired, and tracks the user's practice history. The method/apparatus further provides features such as automatic vocal range detection, adjustment of lessons to a user's vocal range, and a display method that makes changes to the pitches of music notes clear during musical key/scale changes.

Devices and methods for digital sound leveling are disclosed. The subject devices and methods can be used to reduce the risk of noise induced hearing loss. According to an embodiment, an audio file can be parsed into frames that are filtered using an A-weighted digital filter and scaled to a desired power level. Accordingly, the dynamic range of an audio output at a particular volume level can be controlled.

A method of enhancing binaural representation for a subject includes receiving a first signal and a second signal in response to a plurality of sound sources, generating a number of estimated interaural time differences using the first signal and the second signal, converting each of the number of estimated interaural time differences to a corresponding interaural level difference, using one or more of the corresponding interaural level differences to generate an adjusted first signal, and using the adjusted first signal to generate a number of signals delivered to the subject for enhancing the hearing of the subject.

A personalized hearing profile is generated for an ear-level device comprising a memory, microphone, speaker and processor. Communication is established between the ear-level device and a companion device, having a user interface. A frame of reference in the user interface is provided, where positions in the frame of reference are associated with sound profile data. A position on the frame of reference is determined in response to user interaction with the user interface, and certain sound profile data associated with the position. Certain data is transmitted to the ear level device. Sound can be generated through the speaker based upon the audio stream data to provide real-time feedback to the user. The determining and transmitting steps are repeated until detection of an end event.

The application relates to a method of providing a speech intelligibility predictor value for estimating an average listener's ability to understand of a target speech signal when said target speech signal is subject to a processing algorithm and/or is received in a noisy environment. The application further relates to a method of improving a listener's understanding of a target speech signal in a noisy environment and to corresponding device units. The object of the present application is to provide an alternative objective intelligibility measure, e.g. a measure that is suitable for use in a time-frequency environment. The invention may e.g. be used in audio processing systems, e.g. listening systems, e.g. hearing aid systems.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods enabling hearing aid fitting by a non-expert consumer. The method in one embodiment involves delivering a sequence of test audio signals corresponding to natural sound segments to a non-acoustic input of a programmable hearing device in-situ, while allowing the consumer to adjust fitting parameters based perceptual assessment of hearing device output. The sound segments define a fitting soundscape within the normal human auditory range, with each sound segment corresponding to one or more fitting parameters of the programmable hearing device. The consumer is instructed to listen to the output of the in-situ hearing device and adjust controls related to corresponding fitting parameters. In one embodiment, the fitting system comprises a personal computer and a handheld device providing calibrated test audio signals and programming interface. The systems and methods allow home dispensing of hearing devices without requiring specialized instruments.

The present invention provides a hearing device comprising a first component (10) with a housing (11) comprising at least one electronic module, said housing (11) being adapted to be carried outside of or at the human body and a second component (20) to be inserted either partially or fully into an ear canal of a human body, said second component (20) comprising a shell (21). The hearing device further comprises connecting means connecting both mechanically and electrically said first and said second component (10;20), comprising a tube (30) with electric wire arranged within the tube (30) and two fasteners (31;32) being arranged at each end of said tube (30). Said first fastener (31), being adapted to detachably connect said second component (20) with said connecting means, comprises a receiving housing or compartment, adapted to contain at least a part of a receiver (23) to be placed within said second component (20). By providing a detachable fastener (31;32) at least at one end of the tube (30) acting as connecting means between the first and second component (10;20) of the hearing device, the connecting means may be easily detached from either the first or the second component (10;20) of the hearing device.

The invention discloses a method, an earphone and a mobile terminal for protecting hearing of human ears. The method comprises the following steps: collecting sound pressure data in an external auditory canal of human being in real time through a sound pressure sensor in the earphone and sending the collected sound pressure data to the mobile terminal; receiving the sound pressure data by the mobile terminal and confirming a volume value corresponding to the collected sound pressure data according to a mapping relation between the sound pressure data and the volume value which is confirmed in advance; judging if the confirmed volume value is greater than a first preset sound threshold by the mobile terminal, if yes, reducing an output volume value of the earphone according to a preset range, or reducing the output volume value of the earphone to a preset volume value, thereby protecting the hearing of a user. According to the method provided by the invention, the playing volume of the earphone can be accurately adjusted according to the volume value practically received by the ears, and the ears are effectively protected.

A hearing device test system for use by a non-expert user may include a hearing device comprising a sound processor and a speaker and a portable test unit including a test microphone acoustically coupled to an exterior of the portable test unit via an acoustic calibration cavity. The portable test unit may include a coupler at an opening to the acoustic calibration cavity configured to receive the hearing device at least partially therein and the test microphone may be configured to produce a calibration signal input responsive to acoustic calibration stimuli provided by the speaker of the hearing device. The hearing device test system may also include a processor associated therewith and configured to measure a level of the calibration signal input.

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating a magnetic field in a portable wireless terminal for a hearing impaired person. In the apparatus, an amplifier amplifies a voice-band electric signal received from a CODEC to a predetermined level, and a coil converts the amplified electric signal into a corresponding magnetic signal. The coil is configured to generate the magnetic signal sufficiently enough to allow a hearing impaired user wearing a hearing aid to make and receive calls with the portable wireless terminal.

The invention discloses an autonomous fitting hearing aid system based on an intelligent terminal. The system comprises an ear hearing aid used for realizing hearing compensation and a mobile intelligent terminal used for realizing audiometry and fitting. The ear hearing aid and the mobile intelligent terminal carry out wireless communication. In a fitting method, through a questionnaire and audiometry of left and right ears respectively, a hearing condition of a user is acquired. Based on the hearing condition, a hearing map and hearing damage state data are made; hearing compensation prescriptions of left and right ears of the user are generated so as to acquire different voice frequencies of the left and right ears of the user and different sound strength gains, parameters are arranged on hardware of the ear hearing aid, and then a voice signal received by a microphone is segmented according to a frequency, and different amplification and compression are adopted for voices with different frequency ranges. A noise suppression algorithm is used to restrain noises generated by an environment and a hearing aid circuit. Signals of each frequency range are synthesized and finally the synthesized voice signal is output through a loudspeaker. By using the system and the method, fitting cost of the hearing aid user can be greatly reduced.

An apparatus, software, procedures and technology that, beginning with a simple manipulative auditory paradigm, moves up the auditory neural pathways, modifying the basic stimulus from a unilateral routine audiology tool to a dichotic central auditory processing diagnostic tool that defines hearing loss along the entire auditory chain from the middle ear to the cortex. From the resultant data comes information related to the reduction of tinnitus employing parathreshold central procedures rather than the traditional suprathreshold masking or phase-shifting techniques. The new application modifies and applies known technology in new ways for both the top-down and bottom-up differential diagnosis of auditory disorders and the tinnitus reduction.

The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing system comprising an input unit, an output unit and a transmission unit operationally interconnecting said input output units. Said transmission unit implements a transfer function describing, how audio signals generated by said input unit are processed in order to derive audio signals fed to said output unit, and can be adjusted by one or more transfer function parameters. Said method comprises obtaining, by means of said input unit and with a first directional characteristic, first audio signals from incoming acoustic sound; deriving from said first audio signals a first set of sound-characterizing data; and deriving, in dependence of

• • first directional information, which is data comprising information on said first directional characteristic, and of
  • said first set of sound-characterizing data,

a value for each of said one or more transfer function parameters. This allows to gain insight into the acoustic environment and allows for better automatic adjustments of said transfer function.