Abstract: A wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable devices is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals. If so, a second set of sensors may be activated such that the one or more batteries provides an increased amount of power to the second set of sensors. Furthermore, the wellness evaluation system may determine based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure. If the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, the wellness evaluation system may perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a predictive fall event management system and a method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a body-worn device and a controller operatively connected to the body-worn device. The controller is adapted to receive physiological data representative of a physiological characteristic of a wearer of the body-worn device over a monitoring time period; receive contextual data representative of context information of the wearer over the monitoring time period; and determine one or more future physiological states or contextual states based at least in part on one or more of the physiological data and the contextual data. The controller is further adapted to determine, for a future time, whether a fall condition is satisfied based upon the one or more future physiological states or contextual states and generate a fall prevention output responsive to satisfaction of the fall condition.

Abstract: A hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a wearer comprises a processor configured to generate a sequence of audio cues that audibly guide the wearer through a series of actions involving the wearer's head and neck in accordance with a predetermined corrective or therapeutic maneuver. A speaker is configured to play back the sequence of audio cues for reception by the wearer. One or more sensors are configured to sense movement of the head during each of the actions. The processor is configured to determine if head movement for an action associated with each audio cue has been correctly executed by the wearer, and produce an output indicative of successful or unsuccessful execution of the actions by the wearer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a predictive fall event management system and a method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a body-worn device and a controller operatively connected to the body-worn device. The controller is adapted to receive physiological data representative of a physiological characteristic of a wearer of the body-worn device over a monitoring time period; receive contextual data representative of context information of the wearer over the monitoring time period; and determine one or more future physiological states or contextual states based at least in part on one or more of the physiological data and the contextual data. The controller is further adapted to determine, for a future time, whether a fall condition is satisfied based upon the one or more future physiological states or contextual states and generate a fall prevention output responsive to satisfaction of the fall condition.

Abstract: A hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a wearer comprises a processor configured to generate a sequence of audio cues that audibly guide the wearer through a series of actions involving the wearer's head and neck in accordance with a predetermined corrective or therapeutic maneuver. A speaker is configured to play back the sequence of audio cues for reception by the wearer. One or more sensors are configured to sense movement of the head during each of the actions. The processor is configured to determine if head movement for an action associated with each audio cue has been correctly executed by the wearer, and produce an output indicative of successful or unsuccessful execution of the actions by the wearer.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to ear-worn devices and, more specifically, ear-worn devices that can measure reaction and/or reflex speeds. An ear-worn device herein can include a control circuit, a clock circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The ear-worn device can be configured to initiate generation of a stimulus sufficient to generate a response from the ear-worn device wearer. The ear-worn device can be configured to monitor for a qualified response to the stimulus and measure an amount of time between the stimulus and the qualified response. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: An illustrative cochlear implant system includes an electrode lead having an array of electrodes, a cochlear implant coupled with the electrode lead and configured to be implanted within a recipient together with the electrode lead, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant. The processing unit is configured to direct the cochlear implant to apply stimulation to the recipient by way of the array of electrodes. The processing unit is further configured to detect, by way of one or more electrodes included in the array of electrodes, a cortical potential produced by the recipient. Based on the detected cortical potential, the processing unit is configured to determine a fitting parameter associated with the cochlear implant system. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative system includes a stimulation device configured to apply stimulation to a recipient, a sensing device configured to detect a physiological condition of the recipient, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the stimulation device and the sensing device. The processing unit determines a stimulation strategy that is customized to the recipient and includes stimulation frames and stimulation gaps. The processing unit then directs the stimulation device to apply the stimulation to the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by applying the stimulation only during time that corresponds to the stimulation frames. The processing unit also directs the sensing device to detect the physiological condition of the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by detecting only during time that corresponds to the stimulation gaps. Based on the detected physiological condition, the processing unit performs an action.

Abstract: A wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable devices is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals. If so, a second set of sensors may be activated such that the one or more batteries provides an increased amount of power to the second set of sensors. Furthermore, the wellness evaluation system may determine based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure. If the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, the wellness evaluation system may perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a monitoring system are disclosed. The monitoring system includes first and second sensors each adapted to detect a characteristic of a subject of the system and generate data representative of the characteristic of the subject, and a controller operatively connected to the first and second sensors. The controller is adapted to receive data representative of first and second characteristics of the subject from the first and second sensors, and determine statistics for first and second condition substates of the subject over a monitoring time period based upon the data received from the first and second sensors. The controller is further adapted to compare the statistics of the first and second condition substates, confirm the first condition substate if it is substantially similar to the second condition substate, and determine the statistics of an overall condition state of the subject based upon the confirmed first condition substate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems, devices and methods for the treatment of equilibrium disorders and improving gait and balance. In an embodiment, a method of treating an equilibrium disorder is included. The method can include monitoring device wearer movement with a movement sensor, identifying a movement pattern consistent with an equilibrium disorder, estimating characteristics of the equilibrium disorder, and applying stimulation to at least one of the right ear, left ear, or brainstem of the device wearer of an ear-worn device. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable devices is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals. If so, a second set of sensors may be activated such that the one or more batteries provides an increased amount of power to the second set of sensors. Furthermore, the wellness evaluation system may determine based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure. If the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, the wellness evaluation system may perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure.

Abstract: A wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable devices is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals. If so, a second set of sensors may be activated such that the one or more batteries provides an increased amount of power to the second set of sensors. Furthermore, the wellness evaluation system may determine based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure. If the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, the wellness evaluation system may perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a predictive fall event management system and a method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a body-worn device and a controller operatively connected to the body-worn device. The controller is adapted to receive physiological data representative of a physiological characteristic of a wearer of the body-worn device over a monitoring time period; receive contextual data representative of context information of the wearer over the monitoring time period; and determine one or more future physiological states or contextual states based at least in part on one or more of the physiological data and the contextual data. The controller is further adapted to determine, for a future time, whether a fall condition is satisfied based upon the one or more future physiological states or contextual states and generate a fall prevention output responsive to satisfaction of the fall condition.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a fall prediction system and method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a hearing device for a wearer, a sensor operatively connected to the hearing device and adapted to detect a characteristic of the wearer and generate a sensor signal based on the characteristic, and a controller operatively connected to the hearing device. The controller is adapted to determine a fall risk value based on the sensor signal, compare the fall risk value to a fall risk threshold, and generate a fall prevention output if the fall risk value exceeds the fall risk threshold.

Abstract: A hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a wearer comprises a processor configured to generate a sequence of audio cues that audibly guide the wearer through a series of actions involving the wearer's head and neck in accordance with a predetermined corrective or therapeutic maneuver. A speaker is configured to play back the sequence of audio cues for reception by the wearer. One or more sensors are configured to sense movement of the head during each of the actions. The processor is configured to determine if head movement for an action associated with each audio cue has been correctly executed by the wearer, and produce an output indicative of successful or unsuccessful execution of the actions by the wearer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a fall prediction system and method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a hearing device for a wearer, a sensor operatively connected to the hearing device and adapted to detect a characteristic of the wearer and generate a sensor signal based on the characteristic, and a controller operatively connected to the hearing device. The controller is adapted to determine a fall risk value based on the sensor signal, compare the fall risk value to a fall risk threshold, and generate a fall prevention output if the fall risk value exceeds the fall risk threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a beacon that can be utilized with a fall prediction system and a method of utilizing such system are disclosed. The fall prediction system includes a head-worn device for a user, a beacon adapted to detect a hazard and generate a beacon signal based on the detected hazard, and a controller operatively connected to the head-worn device and the beacon. The controller is adapted to determine a fall risk value based on the beacon signal. At least one of the beacon and the controller are further adapted to transmit the beacon signal to the user.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a fall prediction system and method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a hearing device for a user, a sensor operatively connected to the hearing device and adapted to detect a characteristic of the user and generate a sensor signal based on the characteristic, an accessory operatively connected to the hearing device, and a controller operatively connected to the hearing device. The controller is adapted to determine a fall risk value based on the sensor signal, compare the fall risk value to a fall risk threshold, and generate a fall prevention output if the fall risk value exceeds the fall risk threshold.