Abstract: A spatial-audio recording system includes a processor, and instructions stored in a computer-readable medium that, when read by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include retrieving audio data recorded at a number of microphones, determining a recorded signal vector based on the audio data, and initializing values for an operator. The operations further include determining a plurality of waves from directions by performing operations comprising iteratively, until an exit condition is satisfied: initializing or incrementing an index “i”; determining an ith direction using the operator; and updating the operator to correspond to the ith iteration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure set forth a computer-implemented method comprising determining a first direction of interest associated with a user, receiving a set of audio signals associated with the first direction of interest, determining a first dominant frequency band within the set of audio signals, modifying a first portion of the set of audio signals corresponding to the first dominant frequency band, and outputting the modified set of audio signals.

Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, is configured to be worn by a user at or in an ear or to be fully or partially implanted in the head at an ear of the user. The hearing device comprises a) an input unit for providing at least one electric input signal in a time frequency representation k, m, where k and m are frequency and time indices, respectively, and k represents a frequency channel, the at least one electric input signal being representative of sound and comprising target signal components and noise components; and b) a signal processor comprising b1) an SNR estimator for providing a target signal-to-noise ratio estimate for said at least one electric input signal in said time frequency representation; and b2) an SNR-to-gain converter for converting said target signal-to-noise ratio estimate to respective gain values in said time frequency representation. The signal processor comprises a neural network, wherein the weights of the neural network have been trained with a plurality of training signals.

Abstract: There is provided a voice processing system capable of acquiring user voice more clearly, the voice processing system including: a mounting unit configured to be attached to a user. The mounting unit includes at least three voice acquisition units configured to acquire voice data for beamforming.

Abstract: A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

Abstract: A hearing test system includes an electronic device, a first assistive listening device, and a second assistive listening device. The electronic device is configured to generate a signal. The first assistive listening device is configured to detect a first intensity of the signal. The second assistive listening device spaced is apart from the first assistive listening device by a fixed distance and is configured to detect a second intensity of the signal. The electronic device is further configured to generate a distance adjustment signal based on the first and second intensities for adjusting a first distance between the first assistive listening device and the electronic device and adjusting a second distance between the second assistive listening device and the electronic device.

Abstract: An eyewear device includes an audio system. In one embodiment, the audio system includes a microphone array that includes a plurality of acoustic sensors. Each acoustic sensor is configured to detect sounds within a local area surrounding the microphone array. For a plurality of the detected sounds, the audio system performs a direction of arrival (DoA) estimation. Based on parameters of the detected sound and/or the DoA estimation, the audio system may then generate or update one or more acoustic transfer functions unique to a user. The audio system may use the one or more acoustic transfer functions to generate audio content for the user.

Abstract: The glasses with display may include a bridge, two temples hingedly coupled to the bridge, and a directional microphone array, the directional microphone array including two or more microphones positioned on the bridge or the temples. The glasses with display may also include a user microphone array, the user microphone array including one or more microphones positioned on the temples and oriented toward the mouth of a user wearing the glasses with display or one or more bone conduction microphones. In addition, the glasses with display include two lenses positioned in the bridge, at least one of the lenses including a display, the display visible by the user, the display including one or more of a directional display, closed caption display, and user volume display. The glasses with display additionally include a processor adapted to receive audio signals from the directional microphone array and the user microphone array, or from a separate mobile device, the processor adapted to control the display.

Abstract: Contact hearing devices for use with a wearable communication apparatus are disclosed to provide the user with an open ear canal to hear ambient sound and sound from an audio signal. The disclosed devices and systems have an advantage of providing sound to user from the audio signal, in many embodiments without creating sound that can be perceived by others. The contact hearing device can also be used to amplify ambient sound to provide a hearing assistance to users with diminished hearing. The wearable information apparatus can be configured to couple wirelessly to the contact transducer assembly, such that the wearable information apparatus can be removed while the contact transducer assembly remains placed on the user.

Abstract: A method performs directional signal processing for a hearing aid. First and second input transducers of the hearing aid generate first and second input signals, respectively, from a sound signal. A first calibration directional signal which has a relative attenuation in the direction of a first useful signal source is generated from the first and second input signals, and a second calibration directional signal which has a relative attenuation in the direction of a second useful signal source is generated from the first and second input signals. A relative gain parameter is determined from the first and second calibration directional signals. First and second processing directional signals are generated from both the first and second input signals. A source-sensitive directional signal is generated from the first and second processing directional signals and the relative gain parameter. An output signal of the hearing aid is generated from the source-sensitive directional signal.

Abstract: Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio content includes a first stem coupled to a first microphone housing that encases first front microphone and first rear microphone that generates acoustic signals, respectively. First microphone housing includes a first front port that faces downward and a first rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes second stem coupled to second microphone housing that encases second front microphone and second rear microphone that generate acoustic signals, respectively. Second microphone housing includes second front port that faces downward and second rear port that faces backwards. Apparatus includes binaural audio processor that includes beamformer and storage device. Beamformer generate first beamformer signal based on acoustic signals from first front microphone and first rear microphone, and second beamformer based on acoustic signals from second front microphone and second rear microphone.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method including fabricating a left acoustic ear and a right side acoustic ear for assisting a user in hearing, molding a concave form configured for a structure of the acoustic ear and mirrored for the left side acoustic ear and right side acoustic ear structures, wherein the concave structure is configured for channeling incoming sounds to the user's ear, molding an ear mounting grip mirrored for coupling to each of the left and right side acoustic ear structures for hooking the acoustic ear to a user's ear, and wherein the ear mounting grip is configured for orienting the concave structure to a front direction corresponding to the user's face.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speech data processing method and apparatus, a device and a storage medium, wherein the method comprises: a client obtains speech data, uses a speech wakeup engine to perform wakeup recognition for the obtained speech data, and stores the obtained speech data in a cyclic buffer queue; the client obtains a wakeup recognition result returned by the speech wakeup engine upon completion of the wakeup recognition, and if the wakeup recognition result is acknowledged wakeup and it is determined that there occurs a case of oneshot currently, determines an interception starting position and obtains buffer data in the cyclic buffer queue from the interception staring position to an end of the queue, the buffer data at least including the content to be recognized; the client sends the buffer data to a speech recognition engine so that the speech recognition engine performs speech recognition for the content to be recognized in the buffer data.

Abstract: An musical instrument amplifier-mounted microphone assembly operatively attaches to the seal of an instrument speaker to capture sound waves, without losing unique sounds. The microphone assembly utilizes electret condenser microphones to achieve boundary layer configuration. The microphone assembly fits flush against, or parallel to, the speaker baffle that holds the microphone assembly in front of speaker cones. The microphone assembly mounts on a circuit board which acts as a reflective surface to achieve boundary layer effect. The flat circuit board provides flat conductor traces that carry audio signals from the electret assembly, past the gasket seal of the speaker, to electronics on the board that power, amplify and match impedances needed to pass the audio signal to a large venue amplification system. A connector terminal on the circuit board connects via a shielded cable to a housing mounted XLR connector that provides connection to a large venue amplification system.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a signal directionality in a hearing instrument wherein first and second signals are generated by first and second input transducers that are spaced apart from one another. A first directional signal is derived from the first input signal and the second input signal by applying a second-to-first relative transfer function with respect to a first target angle to the second input signal. The second-to-first relative transfer function is a relative transfer function from the second input transducer to the first input transducer with respect to the first target angle. Similarly, a second directional signal is derived from the second input signal and the first input signal by applying a first-to-second relative transfer function with respect to a second target angle to the first input signal. An angle-enhanced signal is derived from the first directional signal and the second directional signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide multi-layer microphone protection for any apparatus that captures sound. The apparatus includes an enclosure defining a first cavity. A microphone element is coupled to the first cavity. The microphone element comprises a microphone sensor and a microphone cavity. A first, outer protective layer is disposed at an outer end of the first cavity, closer to the external environment. A second, inner protective layer is disposed between an inner end of the first cavity and the microphone element. The second, inner protective layer may protect the microphone sensor from particles or liquids that may have passed through the first protective layer. The first and second layers may have different acoustic properties.

Abstract: A directional microphone including a casing and a microphone element is provided. The casing has a front sound reception hole and at least one rear sound reception hole. The microphone element is disposed in the casing. The microphone element has a front sound reception surface and a rear sound reception surface. The front sound reception hole is located on a same side as the front sound reception surface, and the front sound reception hole is aligned with the front sound reception surface. The rear sound reception hole is located on a same side as the rear sound reception surface, but the rear sound reception hole and the rear sound reception surface are misaligned with each other.

Abstract: A sound pickup method obtains a correlation between a first sound pickup signal to be generated from a first microphone and a second sound pickup signal to be generated from a second microphone, and performs level control of the first sound pickup signal or the second sound pickup signal, according to a ratio of a frequency component of which the correlation exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A headset comprises a frame and an audio system. The audio system includes a microphone assembly positioned on the frame in a detection region, the detection region external to an ear of a user wearing the headset, and within a threshold distance from an ear canal of the ear, the microphone assembly configured to detect an audio signal emitted from an audio source, wherein the audio signal detected at the detection region is within a threshold degree of similarity of a sound pressure wave at the ear canal of the user, and an audio controller configured to determine a set of head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) based in part on the detected audio signal.

Abstract: A method and system to help determine the extent to which a hearing prosthesis recipient is exposed to speech. The hearing prosthesis will log data regarding audio input, optimally in correspondence with times when the hearing prosthesis is in a stimulation-on mode in which the hearing prosthesis is set to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient in accordance with received audio input, so as to facilitate identification of speech to which the recipient is exposed. Further, as the hearing prosthesis itself receives the audio input, the hearing prosthesis may analyze the audio input to determine one or more linguistic characteristics of the audio input, such as a quantity of speech by the recipient and/or by others, and the hearing prosthesis may output data representing the determined one or more linguistic characteristics. Advantageously, the data may then be used to help facilitate rehabilitation of the recipient.

Abstract: A hearing device for a binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device, comprising: a transceiver module for obtaining a contralateral filtered beamform signal from the contralateral hearing device; microphones for provision of a first and second microphone input signals; a first beamforming module for provision of a first beamform signal based on the first and second microphone input signals; a filter bank, connected to the first beamforming module, for filtering the first beamform signal into a plurality of filtered beamform signals including a first bandpass beamform signal; a bandpass beamformer coupled to the filter bank; an adder, connected to the bandpass beamformer, for provision of a beamformed input signal; a processing circuit for processing the beamformed input signal and providing an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal.

Abstract: A sound pickup method obtains a correlation between a first sound pickup signal to be generated from a first microphone and a second sound pickup signal to be generated from a second microphone, and performs level control of the first sound pickup signal or the second sound pickup signal, according to a ratio of a frequency component of which the correlation exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A time heuristic audio control system, comprises a receiver for receiving time-based data from a personal computing device and a memory storing one or more sets processing parameters comprising instructions for processing the ambient sound based upon the time-based data. The system further includes a processor coupled to the memory and the receiver configured to adjust the ambient sound as directed by a selected set of processing parameters retrieved from the memory to create adjusted audio, the selected set of processing parameters retrieved based upon the time-based data and at least one speaker for outputting the adjusted audio.

Abstract: The present application discloses methods to reliably verify pick locations in a warehouse, with minimal or no interaction by the user. Once verified, the user can proceed to pick-up a product or deliver a product to the pick location. In one embodiment, the user may wear binocular augmented reality headset. The headset renders a hologram that is viewed by the user. Aided by the hologram and depth sensing capabilities of the headset that confirms a pick location without any user interaction, the user may be able to reliably verify pick locations and select the correct product. In another embodiment, the user may wear haptic feedback gloves. The gloves comprise force sensors, actuators and a wireless interface. The forces sensors may determine whether the user is holding the product and a location system may determine whether the user is in proximity to the correct pick location.

Abstract: A microphone assembly is provided, comprising a transducer assembly including a first enclosure defining a first acoustic volume and a Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-System (“MEMS”) microphone transducer disposed within the first enclosure. The microphone assembly also includes a second enclosure disposed adjacent to the first enclosure and defining a second acoustic volume in acoustic communication with the first acoustic volume, the second enclosure including an acoustic resistance, wherein the first and second acoustic volumes, in cooperation with the acoustic resistance, create an acoustic delay for producing a directional polar pattern. Circuitry comprising a shelving filter configured to correct a portion of a frequency response of the MEMS microphone transducer is also provided. In some embodiments, the circuitry is embedded within the transducer assembly or at least included within the microphone assembly.

Abstract: A wearable audio apparatus used to support multiple audio components, namely, microphones. The audio apparatus can have a housing that contains the multiple microphones. The housing can be easily worn by a user, such as by coupling to a headset, ear mount/hook, user's clothing, or user's body. The microphones can be acoustically matched for rapid swapping without requiring a separate audio setup. The audio components can be mounted astride or near one another in the audio apparatus. The audio components can also be separately wired so that each audio component can be independently activated.

Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises first and second separate, interconnectable parts comprising first and second input transducers, respectively, for providing first and second electric input signals, respectively, representative of sound in an environment of the user, and a beamformer filtering unit configured to provide a spatially filtered signal based thereon, and a memory comprising a previously determined own voice transfer function corresponding to a target sound source located at said user's mouth. The hearing device is configured to determine an updated own voice transfer function according to activation of a predefined trigger, when the user's own voice is present, and to store an updated own voice transfer function in said memory.

Abstract: A hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid comprises a carrier unit and a vibrator unit provided on said carrier unit. The vibrator unit is configured to apply vibrations to a pinna of an outer ear of a user by touching said pinna.

Abstract: Audio enhancement systems, devices, methods, and computer program products are disclosed. In particular embodiments, audio is separated by source at an auxiliary processing device, primary voice presence and/or relevancy per source is determined and used to determine enhancement data that is sent to one or more earpieces and used for enhancing audio at the earpiece. These and other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing hearing electronics within the housing and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A hearing instrument and a method for operating a hearing instrument is provided. The hearing instrument and/or the method includes receiving and manipulating an audio signal at a signal processor to create a manipulated audio signal, providing a tinnitus relief sound having an operational level based on a present volume level from an audio signal, and generating an output signal based on the manipulated audio signal and the tinnitus relief sound.

Abstract: A method operates a hearing device where a first directional signal and a second directional signal are generated in the hearing device from a sound signal of the environment. A parameter is determined based on the first directional signal and the second directional signal, which represents a quantitative measure of the stationarity of a sound signal. A noise-optimized signal is generated from the first directional signal and the second directional signal based on the parameter. The method is performed by a hearing device having a first microphone and a second microphone for generating a first directional signal and a second directional signal. The hearing device is configured to implement the corresponding method.

Abstract: An analysis system has at least one monitoring assembly that includes at least one microphone to monitor an acoustic field proximate the monitoring assembly. The at least one microphone produces at least one microphone signal responsive to the acoustic field. The analysis system further includes a data storage device configured to buffer the at least one microphone signal and an audio analysis system configured to analyze a content of the data storage device where the audio analysis system is configured to analyze the content of the buffer to process at least a sound into a response or action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determining of a sensor signal. For example, an enveloping waveform of the signal from a rotational angle sensor can be reconstructed for this purpose. To this end, a predefined number of successively sampled values of a signal from a rotational angle sensor are multiplied with the elements of a weighting vector. On the basis of a measurement vector weighted in this way, an enveloping waveform of a signal curve from a rotational angle sensor can then be determined and, therefrom, a phase angle can be calculated.

Abstract: Audio apparatus includes a neckband, which is sized and shaped to be worn around a neck of a human subject and includes left and right sides that rest respectively above the left and right clavicles of the human subject wearing the neckband. First and second arrays of microphones are disposed respectively on the left and right sides of the neckband and configured to produce respective electrical signals in response to acoustical inputs to the microphones. One or more earphones are worn in the ears of the human subject. Processing circuitry is coupled to receive and mix the electrical signals from the microphones in the first and second arrays in accordance with a specified directional response relative to the neckband so as to generate a combined audio signal for output via the one or more earphones.

Abstract: Example implementations relate to generating a performance index of an electrical device. An example implementation includes determining an acoustical contour of a soundscape within a computing enclosure for housing the electrical device. A performance response of the electrical device when subjected to the soundscape within the computing enclosure may be determined. Specifically, a soundscape may be generated within a test chamber that replicates the acoustical contour of the soundscape within the computing enclosure. A performance index of the electrical device may be generated upon being subjected to the generated soundscape.

Abstract: An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: at least one microphone receiving sound from the outside, and configured to detect the direction from which the sound is received; a speaker for outputting the sound; a communication circuit for receiving audio data from an external electronic device; a processor electrically connected to at least one microphone, the speaker, and the communication circuit; and at least one memory electrically connected to the processor. The memory, when operated, can store instructions for enabling the processor to extract the information on the direction, from which the sound is received, from the data related to the sound received through at least one microphone, and to process the data related to the sound outputted through the speaker, on the basis of the information on the direction from which the sound is received. Other examples are possible.

Abstract: The hearing aid apparatus includes a first hearing aid member and a second hearing aid member. The first hearing aid member is placeable on a patient's body, and includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the patient's first ear and converting these received sounds into first transmittable signals. The second hearing aid is placeable on a patient's body adjacent to the patient's second ear, and includes a receiver for receiving the first transmittable electrical signals and a second transducer for converting the first transmittable electrical signals into sound signals configured for delivery to the patient's second ear.

Abstract: A binaural hearing system (“system”) enhances and/or preserves interaural level differences between first and second signals. The system includes first and second audio detectors associated with first and second ears of a user, respectively. The audio detectors detect an audio signal presented to the user and generate the first and second signals to represent the audio signal as detected at the first and second ears, respectively. The system also includes a first sound processor that receives the first signal from the first audio detector and the second signal from a second sound processor via a communication link with the second sound processor. The first sound processor generates a directional signal representative of a spatial filtering of the audio signal detected at the first ear according to an end-fire directional polar pattern and presents an output signal representative of the directional signal to the user at the first ear.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device and methods for operating the electronic device. The electronic device may include: a housing having a coupling member removably attachable to an ear of a user; one or more microphones provided within the housing and configured to detect an external sound; at least one speaker provided within the housing; at least one communication circuit within the housing; a processor provided within the housing and electrically coupled to the one or more microphones, the at least one speaker, and the at least one communication circuit; and at least one memory provided within the housing, and electrically coupled to the processor.

Abstract: A case for a portable electronic device includes an enclosed, elongated space extending within the case from an opening in an interior surface of the case. The opening corresponds to the location of a microphone in the device. The enclosed space is tapered to an increasingly smaller cross-section as it extends away from the opening. A first edge of the enclosed space aligns along most of its length with an exterior surface of the case. A screen covers a second opening in the exterior surface of the case along the first edge of the elongated space and provides an acoustic resistance between the elongated space and air outside the case through the second opening. A gasket located at the first opening couples the elongated space to the microphone of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for an earpiece that includes an audio subsystem and a longitudinal housing that is bendable between a substantially straight shape and a substantially curved shape. The longitudinal housing may contain the audio subsystem and include a flexible material. Additionally, a speaker may be coupled to the audio subsystem and positioned at an end of the longitudinal housing. In one example, the earpiece also includes a controller coupled to the flexible material, wherein the controller generates one or more control signals that cause the flexible material to automatically complete a bend of the longitudinal housing to the substantially curved shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates in a first aspect to a method of determining an objective perceptual quantity of a noisy speech signal using directional sound information. The method comprises steps of applying a noisy speech signal comprising a mixture of target speech and interfering noise to a first hearing instrument with an adjustable microphone arrangement and controlling the adjustable microphone arrangement to produce first and second directivity patterns exhibiting first and second directivity indexes, respectively, wherein said second directivity index is smaller than the first directivity index at one or more reference frequencies. First and second noisy speech segments are recorded from the adjustable microphone arrangement using the first and second directivity patterns, respectively, and at least one value of the objective perceptual quantity of the noisy speech signal is determined by comparing the first noisy speech segment and the second noisy speech segment.

Abstract: A hearing instrument and a method for operating a hearing instrument is provided. The hearing instrument and/or the method includes receiving and manipulating an audio signal at a signal processor to create a manipulated audio signal, providing a tinnitus relief sound having an operational level based on a present volume level from an audio signal, and generating an output signal based on the manipulated audio signal and the tinnitus relief sound.

Abstract: A hearing device comprises a sound system for estimating the direction of arrival of sound emitted by one or more sound sources creating a sound field. The sound system comprises an array of N sound receiving transducers (microphones), each providing an electric input signal, a processing unit comprising a) a model unit comprising a parametric model configured to be able to describe the sound field at the array as a function of the direction of arrival in a region surrounding and adjacent to the array; b) a model optimizing unit configured to optimize said model with respect to its parameters based on said sound samples; c) a cost optimizing unit configured to minimize a cost function of the model with respect to said direction of arrivals; d) an estimating unit configured to estimate the direction of arrival based on said parametric model with the optimized parameters and the optimized cost function.

Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to techniques for determining weights for stimulation channels of a stimulating hearing prosthesis. The determined weights are used to provide stimulation to a recipient of the stimulating hearing prosthesis.

Abstract: A hearing device comprising a first and a second input sound transducers, a processing unit, and an output sound transducer. The first transducer is configured to be arranged in an ear canal or in the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate first electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The second transducer is configured to be arranged behind a pinna or on, behind or at the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate second electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The processing unit is configured to process the first and second electrical acoustic signals and apply a direction dependent gain. The output sound transducer is configured generate acoustical output sound signals in accordance with the applied direction dependent gain.

Abstract: Ear buds may have sensors to gather orientation information such as accelerometer measurements during user movements. A host electronic device may communicate wirelessly with the ear buds and may form part of an ear bud system that supplies the user with coaching and feedback while evaluating user performance of a head movement routine or other exercise routine. During operation, the ear buds may gather accelerometer data in a first reference frame such as a reference frame associated with the ear buds and may use a rotation matrix to rotate the data in the first reference frame into a second reference frame such as a neutral reference frame with a fixed orientation to the earth. The data in the neutral reference frame may be analyzed using a user head pose look-up table to categorize measured user head positions as corresponding to respective user head poses.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voice synthesis device, a voice synthesis method, a bone conduction helmet and a hearing aid. The voice synthesis device of the present disclosure comprises an aggregation node and a plurality of detection nodes, wherein the detection nodes are used for detecting external voice signals and transmitting the external voice signals to the aggregation node. The aggregation node is used for filtering the detected voice signals and synthesizing the voice signals sent by trusted detection nodes. Thus, the bit error rate of voice signals can be reduced significantly, and the accuracy of voice signals can be improved.

Abstract: An audio device includes a microphone, a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone, a signal path from the microphone to a receiver, and a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. A protection screen is provided at the sound canal, and includes a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal, and defines a slit-formed opening between the first surface and the second surface. The curvature between the first surface and the slit-formed opening is smooth and gradual, and a sharp edge is located at the transition between the second surface and the slit-formed opening.