Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatuses for integration of hearing aids with an MSD to improve intelligibility in noisy environments. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of providing voice audio to a hearing aid or text in a hearing aid user's field of view, where the voice audio or text corresponds to a speaker of interest within a noisy environment, and where the speaker of interest is identified using smart glasses. An MSD graphical user interface is provided for a hearing aid user to identify a speaker of interest. The lip movement patterns of the speaker of interest are recorded by the smart glasses, and voice activity detection is performed on the lip movement patterns. Noise reduction is performed using the results of the voice activity detection. The noise-reduced voice audio may be transmitted to the hearing aid, or the speech recognition text may be transmitted to and displayed on the MSD.

Abstract: An audio system processes a speech signal to maintain a target value of the speech intelligibility index (SII) while minimizing the overall speech level so that speech intelligibility is preserved across different environmental sound levels while possible distortions and overall loudness are mitigated. In one embodiment, a hearing aid processes a speech signal received from another device to maintain a target value of the SII while minimizing the overall speech level before mixing the speech signal with a microphone signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatuses for integration of hearing aids with an MSD to improve intelligibility in noisy environments. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of providing voice audio to a hearing aid or text in a hearing aid user's field of view, where the voice audio or text corresponds to a speaker of interest within a noisy environment, and where the speaker of interest is identified using smart glasses. An MSD graphical user interface is provided for a hearing aid user to identify a speaker of interest. The lip movement patterns of the speaker of interest are recorded by the smart glasses, and voice activity detection is performed on the lip movement patterns. Noise reduction is performed using the results of the voice activity detection. The noise-reduced voice audio may be transmitted to the hearing aid, or the speech recognition text may be transmitted to and displayed on the MSD.

Abstract: An earset assembly including a first earpiece, a second earpiece, and an electrical circuit. The first earpiece includes an internal microphone to capture speech of a user and an internal speaker, and is positionable with respect to a first ear of the user so that the internal microphone detects the speech from the first ear of the user. The second earpiece includes an internal speaker, and is positionable with respect to a second ear of the user. The electrical circuit operatively connects the internal microphone and the internal speakers to a communication device. In an audio listening state, the electrical circuit is configured to operatively couple the internal speakers respectively to first and second audio ports of the communication device for outputting stereo audio content with the speakers, and the internal microphone is switched to an off state.

Abstract: An earpiece may be used to detect sounds from an ear canal of a user. The earpiece may include a microphone assembly and an acoustic pathway that is at least partially defined by a hollow elongated member. The acoustic pathway fluidly couples the microphone assembly with an ear canal of the user when the earpiece is positioned with respect to the ear of the user. Sounds produced by the user travel from the ear canal through the acoustic pathway for detection by the microphone assembly. Also, the hollow elongated member behaves as an acoustic waveguide to amplify a desired frequency and/or attenuate other, less desirable, frequencies of the sounds produced by the user.

Abstract: An earset assembly including a first earpiece, a second earpiece, and an electrical circuit. The first earpiece includes an internal microphone to capture speech of a user and an internal speaker, and is positionable with respect to a first ear of the user so that the internal microphone detects the speech from the first ear of the user. The second earpiece includes an internal speaker, and is positionable with respect to a second ear of the user. The electrical circuit operatively connects the internal microphone and the internal speakers to a communication device. In an audio listening state, the electrical circuit is configured to operatively couple the internal speakers respectively to first and second audio ports of the communication device for outputting stereo audio content with the speakers, and the internal microphone is switched to an off state.

Abstract: An earpiece may be used to detect sounds from an ear canal of a user. The earpiece may include a microphone assembly and an acoustic pathway that is at least partially defined by a hollow elongated member. The acoustic pathway fluidly couples the microphone assembly with an ear canal of the user when the earpiece is positioned with respect to the ear of the user. Sounds produced by the user travel from the ear canal through the acoustic pathway for detection by the microphone assembly. Also, the hollow elongated member behaves as an acoustic waveguide to amplify a desired frequency and/or attenuate other, less desirable, frequencies of the sounds produced by the user.