The application relates to a method of improving a user's
perception of an input sound. The application further relates to an audio
processing device and to its use. The object of the present application is to increase the
sound quality of a sound
signal as perceived by a user, e.g. a
hearing impaired user. The method comprises a) Defining a
critical frequency fcrit between a
low frequency range and a
high frequency range; b) Analyzing an input sound in a number of frequency bands below and above said
critical frequency; c) Defining a
cut-off frequency fcut below said
critical frequency fcrit; d) Identifying a source
frequency band above said
cut-off frequency fcut; e) Extracting the envelope of said source band; f) Identifying a corresponding target band below said critical frequency fcrit; g) Extracting the phase of said target band; h) Combining the envelope of said source band with the phase of said target band. This has the
advantage of increasing the
sound quality, and the potential to further improve speech intelligibility in frequency transposition, e.g. frequency lowering systems. The invention may e.g. be used in communication devices, such as telephones, or listening devices, e.g.
hearing instruments, headsets, head phones, active
ear protection devices or combinations thereof.