2572 results about "Hearing aid" patented technology

A personal sound system is described that includes a wireless network supporting an ear-level module, a companion module and a phone. Other audio sources are supported as well. A configuration processor configures the ear-level module and the companion module for private communications, and configures the ear-level module for a plurality of signal processing modes, including a hearing aid mode, for a corresponding plurality of sources of audio data. The ear module is configured to handle variant audio sources, and control switching among them.

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 portable assistive listening system for enhancing sound for hearing impaired individuals includes a fully functional hearing aid and a separate handheld digital signal processing (DSP) device. The focus of the present invention is directed to the handheld DSP device and a unique method of processing incoming audio signals. The DSP device includes a programmable digital signal processor, a UWB transceiver for communicating with the hearing aid and/or other wireless audio sources, an LCD display, and a user input device (keypad). The handheld device is user programmable to apply different sound enhancement algorithms for enhancing sound signals received from the hearing aid and/or other audio source. The handheld device is capable of receiving audio signals from multiple sources, and gives the user control over selection of incoming sound sources and selective enhancement of sound. In the context of being user programmable, the digital signal processing device includes a software platform that provides for the ability of the user to select, or plug-in, desired enhancement algorithms for application to selected incoming audio signals. Specifically, the invention focuses on a method of buffering an incoming audio signal, and selectively replaying the buffered audio. The method further includes converting the replayed audio signal to text for display on the handheld DSP device.

Disclosed is a hearing aid that includes a first component operable to receive an input and a second component operable to provide an output to at least one ear of a user of the hearing aid. The first component and the second component are electrically coupled together by a closed electrical circuit including at least one electrical conduction pathway formed by skin of the user between the first component and the second component. An electrical signal is transmitted from the first component to the second component with the closed electrical circuit. Communication between the first and second components can be one-way or two-way.

A hearing assist device is associated with an ear of a user. Health characteristics of the user are measured by sensors of the hearing assist device. The measured health characteristics may be analyzed in the hearing assist device, or transmitted from the hearing assist device for remote analysis. Based on the analysis, alerts, instructions, and other information may be displayed to the user in the form of text or graphics, or may be played by the hearing assist device in the form of sound/voice. Medical personnel may be alerted when problems with the user are detected by the hearing assist device. The user may provide verbal commands to the hearing assist device. The hearing assist device may be configured to filter sounds, and may be configured for a personal hearing frequency response of the user. The hearing assist device may be configured for speech recognition to recognize commands.

A hearing aid system adapted for establishing a conversation group with other hearing aid systems used by different users, comprises a hearing aid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with an associated relay device (11, 12, 13, 14, 15). The relay device is (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) adapted for wireless communication (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) with said hearing aid and for wireless communication (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) with a second hearing aid system. The relay device (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is also adapted for receiving and displaying information about said second hearing aid systems being available for participation in said conversation group, and it comprises means for selection of said other hearing aid systems for inclusion into the conversation group. The invention further provides a method for establishing a conversation group among hearing aid users.

A portable assistive listening system for enhancing sound for hearing impaired individuals includes a fully functional hearing aid and a separate handheld digital signal processing (DSP) device. The focus of the present invention is directed to the handheld DSP device. The DSP device includes a programmable digital signal processor, a UWB transceiver for communicating with the hearing aid and/or other wireless audio sources, an LCD display, and a user input device (keypad). The handheld device is user programmable to apply different processing algorithms for processing sound signals received from the hearing aid or other audio source. The handheld device is capable of receiving audio signals from multiple sources, and gives the user control over selection of incoming sources and selective processing of sound. In the context of being user programmable, the digital signal processing device includes a software platform that provides for the ability of the user to select or “plug-in” desired processing algorithms for application to selected incoming audio channels and a communication port for the user to connect to a PC or other device to download preferred processing algorithms. The communication port provides the user with the ability to retrieve desirable processing algorithms from a database of available algorithms and download those algorithms directly into the device for use.

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 system and method for processing an acoustic input signal and providing at least one output acoustic signal to a user of a hearing-aid system. The hearing-aid system includes first and second channels with one of the channels having an adaptive delay. The first channel includes a directional unit for receiving the acoustic input signal and providing a directional signal; a correlative unit for receiving the directional signal and providing a noise reduced signal by utilizing correlative measures for identifying a speech signal of interest in the directional signal; and, a compensator for receiving the noise reduced signal and providing a compensated signal for compensating for a hearing loss of the user.

Systems, methods, and devices for sharing ambient audio via an audio-sharing network are provided. By way of example, a system that receives shared audio from such an audio-sharing network may include a personal electronic device. The personal electronic device may join an audio-sharing network of other electronic devices and receive several audio streams from the audio-sharing network. Based at least partly on these audio streams, the personal electronic device may determine a digital user-personalized audio stream, outputting the digital user-personalized audio stream to a personal listening device. By way of example, the personal electronic device may represent a personal computer, a portable media player, or a portable phone. The personal listening device may represent a speaker of the personal electronic device, a wireless hearing aid, a wireless cochlear implant, a wired hearing aid, a wireless headset, or a wired headset, to name only a few examples.

A hearing compensation system for the hearing impaired comprises an input transducer for converting acoustical information at an input to electrical signals at an output, an output transducer for converting electrical signals at an input to acoustical information at an output, a plurality of bandpass filters, each bandpass filter having an input connected to the output of said input transducer, a plurality of AGC circuits, each individual AGC circuit associated with a different one of the bandpass filters and having an input connected to the output of its associated bandpass filter and an output connected to the input of the output transducer. The bandpass filters and AGC circuits may be divided into two processing channels, one for low frequencies and one for high frequencies and may drive separate audio transducers, one configured for maximum efficiency at low frequencies and one configured for maximum efficiency at high frequencies.

A hearing aid that is capable of automatically switching between a full-function mode and a sleep mode depending on the location of the hearing aid. The hearing aid comprises a hearing aid module for processing an input signal and generating a compensated output signal and, a location sensor module for providing a location information signal to indicate one of an in-the-ear case and an out-of-the-ear case. The hearing aid module automatically switches to the full-function mode when the location information signal indicates the in-the-ear case and the hearing aid module automatically switches to the sleep mode when the location information signal indicates the out-of-the-ear case.

A method for fitting a hearing compensation device comprises selecting a plurality of loudness levels for a plurality of frequencies and comparing each loudness level for each frequency for perceived sameness. The loudness levels may then be adjusted as needed to achieve perceived sameness across the frequency spectrum. A gain curve for each frequency is calculated from the selected plurality of loudness levels.

A compressible hearing aid includes an exterior deformable skin which bounds an internal region which is filled, at least in part, with an open-cell foam, the foam can be wrapped around or molded to contain an audio output transducer. The skin is not self-supporting and in response to applied forces from user's ear canal, the skin and the foam both deform and readily compress exhibiting a reduced volume. Though compressed, the foam exerts an outward force against the skin thereby continuing to form an elongated seal between the skin and the external periphery of the user's dynamically changing ear canal. As the volume of the ear canal increases, the skin and open-cell foam expand, exhibiting an increased internal volume, while maintaining a comfortable seal with the ear canal. A plurality of external ribs carried on the skin not only reduces feedback but promotes drying of the ear canal and promotes retention of the hearing aid in the ear canal.

A hearing aid circuit includes a correlation detector that detects correlation at a feedforward path input and that provides a correlation output to a phase shifter. The phase shifter introduces a phase shift along a feedforward path. A phase measurement circuit measures a phase shift at a feedforward path input, and provides a phase measurement output to an internal feedback processor. The internal feedback processor adjusts internal feedback as a function of the phase measurement to suppress coupling of external audio feedback along the feedforward path.

An aided ear bud device is provided that operates as a hearing aid device as well as an ear bud device for a wireless phone. The aided ear bud normally operates as a hearing aid device. The aided ear bud state is changed by a verified input from a wireless phone. Upon the change in state, the microphone input from the aided ear bud is remotely output to the wireless phone while the incoming transmission from the wireless phone is combined with the microphone input and output to the user. The ear bud device can be modified to receive analog or digital inputs from other outside sources.

A directionally-sensitive device for detecting and processing vibration waves includes an array of polymeric optical waveguide resonators positioned between a light source, such as an LED array, and a light detector, such as a photodiode array. The resonators which are preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to incoming vibration waves, vibrate when a wave is detected, thus modulating light signals that are transmitted between the light source and the light detector. The light detector converts the modulated light into electrical signals which, in a preferred embodiment, are used to drive either the speaker of a hearing aid or the electrode array of a cochlear implant. The device is manufactured using a combination of traditional semiconductor processes and polymer microfabrication techniques.

The present invention relates to a hearing aid logging data and learning from these data. The hearing aid (10, 100) comprises an input unit (12) converting an acoustic environment to an electric signal; an output unit (16) converting an processed electric signal to a sound pressure; a signal processing unit (14) interconnecting the input and output unit, and generating the processed electric signal from the electric signal according to a setting; a user interface (18) converting user interaction to a control signal thereby controlling the setting; and finally a memory unit (20) comprising a control section storing a set of control parameters associated with the acoustic environment, and a data logger section receiving data from the input unit (12), the signal processing unit (14), and the user interface (18); and wherein said signal processing unit (14) configures the setting according to the set of control parameters and comprises a learning controller adapted to adjust the set of control parameters according to the data in the data logging section.

An implantable hearing aid transducer is provided that allows providing movement for stimulation purposes in at least first and second directions. This allows for moving an auditory component in a direction that may be substantially aligned with a natural direction of movement for the auditory component. In one arrangement, a middle ear transducer having an elongated vibratory member that extends into a patient's tympanic cavity is operative to move a tip of the vibratory member in at least first and second directions. A first direction may be along a long axis of the vibratory member while a second direction may be in a direction that is at least partially transverse to the long axis of the vibratory member. Further, the transducer may be positionable to provide alignment of the vibratory member such that the transverse direction of movement is substantially aligned with a direction of natural movement of a middle ear component (e.g. ossicles bone) to be stimulated.

An intra-cochlear implant is provided for aiding in the hearing of a patient. The implant includes a body portion implantable within an interior of a cochlea of a patient. The body portion has a proximal end, a distal end and a primary axis. A plurality of signal carrying electrodes extends along the body portion. The electrodes have proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends being capable of receiving a signal from a signal generator, and the distal ends being capable of delivering the received signal to an anatomical receptor within a cochlea. At least several of the plurality of electrodes have a nanoelectrode-sized portion. The implant also may include a fluid delivery system of tubules, reservoirs, and pumps for the delivery of chemicals and cells to activate regeneration of neural elements lost during the hearing loss process.

An optically unnoticeable and acoustically improved behind-the-ear hearing device having a housing which can be worn behind the ear, a signal processing facility which is arranged in the housing, and which comprises an optoelectrical converter, and at least one optical microphone is provided. The optical microphone is arranged outside the housing and can be positioned in the concha or in the auditory canal. Furthermore, the optical microphone is connected to the signal processing facility by way of an optical wave guide for optical signal transmission purposes. An optical microphone of this type can be realized small and in an unnoticeable fashion on/in an otoplastic, such that during the acoustic recording, the typical frequency behavior through the concha can also be used.

A non-invasive device and method for stimulation of neural tissue of a patient comprises a power source and at least one pair of electrodes. The power source applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and the electrodes extend through a top layer of skin generally adjacent Arnold's nerve. The device can be formed in shape similar to a hearing aid. A second pair of electrodes may also be used, positioned on the skin generally adjacent the auriculotemporal nerve.