Abstract: A method and system visually communicates hearing aid information between a patient's smartphone and an audiologist's computer system by using a QR code captured by a camera. When the audiologist's computer system takes a picture of the QR code on the display of the patient's smartphone, the QR code contains at least one piece of audiological data representing historical or current patient-specific usage of the hearing aid. When the patient's smartphone takes a picture of the QR code on the display of the audiologist's computer system, the QR code contains audiological data, which the patient's smartphone extracts to transmit instructions or information to adjust at least one audiological parameter setting on the patient's hearing aid. The patient may transmit or receive an image file of either QR code over a network, thereby communicating the same information with the audiologist.

Abstract: An interconnect ring is used in attaching the leadwires to the coil wire ends of a microminiature sensor. The interconnect ring is affixed directly to an outside surface of either the core or the coil wire of the microminiature sensor. At least the two flexible ends of the coil wire are electrically joined to metal pads on the interconnect ring. Thereafter, the microminiature sensor can be handled with minimal risk of breakage, shorting or dislodging of the ends of the coil wire. Two other metal pads on the interconnect ring are left open for subsequent attachment of leadwires which can run the length of the catheter device in which the microminiature sensor is used.

Abstract: A method and software program is used by patients in situ for fitting and refitting of a DSP-based hearing assistance device. Hearing is tested by selection of one of twenty four playbacks of speech, for each ear. Cognitive training/testing exercises test and train the user to relearn to distinguish between various sounds and particularly speech using the hearing assistance device. The preferred cognitive training/testing includes noise detection exercises, spatial hearing exercises, volume recognition exercises and speech differentiation exercises. The regimens for using the hearing aid depend upon the measured cognitive loss, with different sets of DSP parameters for self-directed, non-assessed cognitive training.

Abstract: A method and software program is used by patients for fitting and refitting of a DSP-based hearing assistance device. An audiologist user interface and patient user interface include soundmaps and slidebars to control collections of hearing parameters within the DSP of the device. Based on cognitive testing and training of the patient, the range of adjustment allowed within at least the patient user interface is limited. The software therefore always maintains 100% safety for the patient and/or user to finetune the hearing aid parameters without worrying about selecting parameter values which would leading to slowing the cognitive learning of the patient.

Abstract: A body-worn hearing assist device such as a hearing aid allows at least two audio inputs, such as through a wireless chipset and from an onboard microphone. The hearing aid has a directional sensor, preferably a combination magnetic sensor/accelerometer, which allows the hearing aid to determine which direction the user is facing. A directional reference associated with a “remote” sound source, i.e., the direction the user would naturally face to best hear the wirelessly transmitted audio, is stored in memory. When the user faces in the direction of the “remote” sound source, such as watching a screen of an audio-visual program having a wireless audio streamer or looking at someone using a wireless microphone, the wirelessly received audio is coupled as the primary input of the hearing aid. When the user turns and faces a different direction, the hearing aid automatically switches the primary input source to the onboard microphone.

Abstract: A battery-powered mobile hearing assist device allows concurrent wireless transception of control data via standard Bluetooth low energy (“BLE”), such as a smartphone, and proprietary audio streaming (“PAS”) from a second device such as a wireless audio streaming accessory. Power savings are achieved particularly in situations where the hearing device is searching for the PAS device. Instead of performing PAS search events as a separate wireless activity from the BLE advertising or connection events, including waking and ramping up for each of the BLE and PAS protocols, PAS search events are combined into the BLE advertising or connection events before returning to the sleep mode in each connection interval, eliminating duplicative processor steps, ramp up and/or ramp down.

Abstract: A digital signal processor processes acoustic sound in a body-worn hearing assist device including separating the microphone signal into frequency bands. Two of the frequency bands, which are preferably adjacent, are considered as a pair. In one of the frequency bands in the pair, the band signal is replicated/split into two subsignals. One of the subsignals is frequency shifted into the other frequency band of the pair. The input signal from the paired frequency band is either significantly attenuated or altogether discarded. The unshifted subsignal is attenuated relative to the frequency-shifted subsignal, which is preferably amplified, before both subsignals are combined as part of the acoustic output. Considering both frequency bands as a pair, the likelihood of feedback is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A compressible, flexible shape-retaining sleeve fits around a hearing aid shell. The sleeve includes fins having a fold line which extend outward to contact the user's ear canal, changing the hearing aid from being largely non-occlusive to being substantially occlusive. The hearing aid, including its shell, can be repeatedly inserted and removed from the sleeve through the battery door opening. The sleeve also has openings for a flexible filament positioning structure, consistently positioning the hearing aid for both occlusive and non-occlusive use. While the flexible filament positioning structure is attached to the hearing aid, it prevents disengagement of the sleeve from the hearing aid shell during insertion and removal of the hearing aid from the user's ear canal.

Abstract: A battery-powered mobile device allows concurrent wireless transception of control data via standard Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and proprietary audio streaming, using the same physical layer of the radio. Following each BLE connection event, an enhanced link layer clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period. Requests provided to the enhanced link layer include time slot information for the proprietary audio bursts. The enhanced link layer determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, appropriately linking payload information of each packet with the BLE control data stack or with a proprietary audio stack, with the BLE control data having priority over the proprietary audio requests.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.

Abstract: A hearing aid switch utilizes pressure/sound clues from a filtered input signal to enable actuation initiated by a user by a signature hand movement relative to a wearer's ear. The preferred signature hand movement involves patting on the ear meatus at least one time to generate a compression wave commonly thought of as a soft “clap” or “pop”. A digital signal processor analyzes the signal looking for a negative pulse, a positive pulse, and dissipation of the hand generated signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.

Abstract: A method of changing at least two parameter settings of a device includes detecting an abnormal change in an external feedback path and an input signal generated by an abnormal pressure wave, and activating a pressure wave detection switch and an abnormal feedback path detection switch for changing the at least one parameter setting in the device. A device includes a digital signal processor configured to implement a detection algorithm to detect an abnormal change in an external feedback path, an adaptive internal feedback cancellation system for continually monitoring and responsively adapting to changes occurring in an external feedback path, a pattern recognition algorithm for detecting input signals generated when an abnormal pressure wave is generated, at least two parameter settings for adjusting the characteristics of the device, and an abnormal feedback path detection switch for switching the device to a next available parameter setting.

Abstract: A feedback transition threshold algorithm assesses and responds to feedback transition events in a hearing aid. The feedback transition threshold algorithm considers short duration trouble indicators, with the preferred primary short duration trouble indicators being the correlation witnessed between the incoming signal in a given frequency band and the same signal delayed by the estimated feedback loop time. If the short duration trouble indicators indicate that feedback squeal is likely and that the external feedback path is changing too quickly for accurate correction by the internal adaptive feedback reduction filter, when the signal level crosses the feedback transition threshold gain is reduced in that frequency band.

Abstract: A hearing aid has hearing aid electronics including the microphone, battery and amplifier in a behind-the-ear housing, with a flexible tube extending from the behind-the-ear housing to a concha-based suspension structure. The concha-based suspension portion is flexible and bears off a tragus contact area, an antitragus contact area and an antihelix contact area. Based on forces generated from these concha bowl contact areas, the tube is suspended in a centered position within the ear canal in an unoccluded fashion making little or no contact with the wall of the ear canal. An annulus of the suspension portion provides an open concha skin surface, which can naturally reflect sound down the generally open ear canal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.

Abstract: A hearing aid switch utilizes pressure/sound clues from a filtered input signal to enable actuation initiated by a user by a signature hand movement relative to a wearer's ear. The preferred signature hand movement involves patting on the ear meatus at least one time to generate a compression wave commonly thought of as a soft “clap” or “pop”. A digital signal processor analyzes the signal looking for a negative pulse, a positive pulse, and dissipation of the hand generated signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid has a suspension portion received in the wearer's concha bowl and an electronics portion. The suspension portion is formed of a flexible rubbery material, while the electronics portion includes a shell formed of a rigid plastic material. The suspension portion is provided as a ring having an annulus, and bears off a tragus contact area, an antitragus contact area and an antihelix contact area to support the receiver in a suspended, cantilevered position within the ear canal. The microphone can be within the flexible ring housing portion. The hearing aid makes much more comfortable contact with the concha bowl.