Testing Of Hearing Aids Patents (Class 381/60)
  • Publication number: 20100086143
    Abstract: A method for user individualized fitting of a hearing aid comprises: Performing an initial fitting (101) of the hearing aid in an interactive session between the hearing aid user and a fitter, monitoring, for a predetermined period after the initial fitting, the hearing aid user's choice of at least some of the settings of the hearing aid and storing the results of the monitoring in a log. The log is transmitted (108) to the fitter for evaluation (109) of preferred user settings. If the evaluation reveals that the preferred user settings are acceptable, the fitting of the hearing aid is finalised (105) accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Peter Magnus NORGAARD, Mike Lind Rank, Jakob Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7693294
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing audible side effects of dynamic current consumption is provided. The system includes an audio subsystem, and a plurality of digital subsystems. The audio subsystem and the digital subsystem are powered by a common power supply. T he digital subsystem processes data packets including audio data packets. The processing events implemented in one or more than one digital subsystem are reorganized to change the profile for executing the events inside the subsystem(s). The dynamic current spectral properties in one or more digital subsystems are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: AMI Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Schneider, Andreas Drollinger, Marc Matthey, Jakob Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7688983
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for objectively assessing acoustical performance of an in-ear device having a passageway extending there through use a dual microphone probe that removably engages the passageway. The acoustical performance of the in-ear device is performed with the in-ear device inserted into the ear canal of the user and a reference sound source. A clip holding the probe in an acoustic near field of the sound source permits real time calibration thereof. The method and apparatus allow on-site and in-situ measurement of a predicted personal attenuation rating of the device, a subject-fit re-insertion test, an acoustic seal test, a rating test, a stability and reliability test, as well as a protection test of the device with an assessment of a filtered predicted exposure level at the ear for a specific noise exposure level. The apparatus may be simply housed along with the sound source for in-field evaluation tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeremie Voix, Frederic Laville
  • Publication number: 20100067711
    Abstract: The method for manufacturing a hearing device, which hearing device includes at least one programmable processor, includes the steps of a) providing a set of software members, b) selecting a subset of said set, and c) creating an image of said subset, which is executable in said at least one processor. This allows to select from a large set of software members only those, which are suitable for a specific user. The system for manufacturing a hearing device in dependence of individual preferences of a user of said hearing device, which hearing device includes at least one programmable processor, includes a selecting tool allowing to select a subset of software members from a set of software members, and a build tool for creating an image of said subset of software members, wherein said image is executable in said at least one processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Bernd Waldmann
  • Publication number: 20100054488
    Abstract: A caddy for testing hearing aid batteries, including a battery test unit having a battery receiver, a battery test mechanism, and an indicator mechanism displaying the capacity of the battery tested. The caddy further includes a storage compartment for storing hearing aid batteries, and an optional flashlight for assisting with battery replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Robby Dale Young
  • Patent number: 7672823
    Abstract: In a computerized method for adherence to physical restrictions in the construction of an ITE hearing aid, each component to be placed in the shell of the hearing aid has a collision plot associated therewith. The collision plot is generated as a scatter plot by measurement and simulation, and represents the physical extent of the influence of a particular property of the component on other components. When virtual representations of the respective components are moved relative to another in the e-detailing software for determining the physical positions of the components in the ITE hearing aid, the collision plot for a given component is visually displayed, so that it can easily be seen when another component invades that collision plot, thereby representing an unacceptably close relative position of the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Nikles, Erika Martinewski, Volker Gebhardt, Bassem Ismail, Artem Boltyenkov, Frank McBagonluri
  • Patent number: 7672468
    Abstract: In a method for adjusting the transmission characteristic of a hearing aid, the characteristic being defined by hearing aid-specific parameters, a data processing device is used that has a screen and a pointer device. On a graphics user interface of the data processing device, an object displayed in a first area of the screen is selected and copied with the pointer device and the copy is moved into the second area of the screen and stored there, with the transmission characteristic of the hearing aid being able to be changed by the stored object. Settings selected for a hearing aid or a hearing program thus can be transferred quickly and easily to a second hearing aid or a second hearing program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Kaiser, Reinier Kortekaas, Sören Kuhrt, Michael Sieber
  • Publication number: 20100040239
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: IntriCon Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Fretz
  • Patent number: 7664281
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determination of gain margin of a hearing assistance device under test. In varying examples, the impulse response for multiple levels can be taken and used to arrive at a gain margin. The method and apparatus, in various examples, process critical portions of the resulting data for efficient processing and to increase accuracy of measurements. The method and apparatus performing a plurality of measurements to determine impulse responses and to derive gain margin as a function of frequency therefrom. The present subject matter includes principles which may are adapted for use within a hearing assistance device using a single white noise stimulus, according to one example. The principles set forth herein can be applied to occluding and non-occluding hearing device embodiments. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivo Leon Diane Marie Merks
  • Patent number: 7664279
    Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for fitting a hearing aid to the specific needs of a hearing impaired individual. The equipment comprising a computer or similar device with soft-ware, where the device has display means for visual display of data, data entry means for entering hearing aid programming data into the device, data storing means, and data output means for outputting programming data to the hearing aid. According to the invention means are provided for selecting simultaneous settings relating to two or more different parameters relating to the processing of sound in the hearing aid to be programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Mark Flynn, Jes Olsen
  • Patent number: 7664280
    Abstract: The operation of a hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is to be improved. It is proposed here that the acoustic auditory environment in which the hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is found is analyzed and one of the adjustment functions dependent on the relevant auditory situation is assigned to at least one control element (7; 12-15) as a function of the auditory situation detected in this way. The adjustment possibility of the hearing aid (10) is thereby restricted to the adjustment possibilities which are meaningful to the relevant auditory situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Rass
  • Patent number: 7660426
    Abstract: A hearing aid fitting system comprising a computer with fitting software and having a display for displaying parameter settings of a hearing aid and input means for adjustment of the parameters, characterized in that the system further comprises a camera for recording images of the wearer's head including the ear with the hearing aid, and a display for displaying at least one image received from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventors: Steven Charles Hannibal, Phat Andrew Phan, Gregory Brian Olsen
  • Publication number: 20100027800
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to modify a controllable stimulus generated by a digital audio device in communication with a human user. An input signal is provided to the digital audio device. In turn, the digital audio device sends a stimulus based on that input signal to the human user, who takes an action, usually in the form of an output signal, to characterize the stimulus that the user receives, based on the user's perception. An algorithm, lookup table, or other procedure then determines a difference between the input signal and the output signal, and a perceptual model is constructed based at least in part on the difference. Thereafter, a new value for the parameter of the digital audio device is suggested based at least in part on the perceptual model. This process continues iteratively until the user's optimal device parameters are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bonny Banerjee, Lee Krause
  • Publication number: 20100020979
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing instrument for processing an input sound to an output sound according to a user's needs. The invention further relates to a method of estimating acoustic feedback in a hearing instrument. The object of the present invention is to reduce the impact of tonal components in the target input signal on the quality of the estimate of acoustic feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bo ELMEDYB, Jesper Jensen
  • Patent number: 7650004
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20100002886
    Abstract: The binaural hearing system (1) comprises ITF means (3a;3b) for providing at least one interaural transfer function (30a;30b); noise reduction means (5a;5b) for performing noise reduction in dependence of said at least one interaural transfer function. The method of operating a binaural hearing system (1) comprises the steps of providing at least one interaural transfer function (30a;30b); performing noise reduction in dependence of said at least one interaural transfer function. Preferably, said noise reduction means (5a;5b) comprises two binaural Wiener filters (5a,5b) each having a cost function comprising at least one term describing a desired interaural transfer function, wherein said at least one interaural transfer function provided by said ITF means (3a,3b) is assigned to said at least one term. Preferably, said cost function comprises a speech distortion term, a residual noise term and two ITF terms for preserving the interaural transfer functions of speech and noise components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Simon Doclo, Thomas J. Klasen, Marc Moonen, Tim Van Den Bogaert, Jan Wouters, Ralph Peter Derleth, Sascha Korl
  • Patent number: 7639822
    Abstract: A battery-powered hearing aid (1) is programmed via a programming device (2), the hearing aid (1) having a battery (11) and a line connection (3, 4) for connecting the battery (11) to the programming device (2). The programming device uses a variable voltage source (5) and an input comparator (6) with a first and a second input terminal and an output terminal to output a variable voltage to one input of the input comparator (6) and determining the voltage of the hearing aid battery (11) by using the second input of the input comparator (6) of the programming device (2). By ramping the output of the variable voltage source (5) used as a reference, the voltage of the battery (11) can be determined with great accuracy using existing hearing aid programming circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventor: Anders Westergaard
  • Publication number: 20090316922
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to measurement of maximum stable gain of a hearing assistance device, including but not limited to hearing aids, as a function of frequency. In various approaches an adaptive filter with a variable step size is used to determine maximum stable gain as a function of frequency. In various approaches, the determination is done in process steps performed by the hearing assistance device. In various approaches, the determination is done in process steps performed by the hearing assistance device and by a host computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivo Merks, Harikrishna P. Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20090316921
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for connecting a hearing aid tester to a sound emitting portion of a hearing aid that fits into the concha or ear canal of a user, the apparatus including a body having a front end and a rear end, a passage within the body for receiving the sound emitting portion and extending from an opening near the front end to an opening near the rear end, the opening near the front end for connecting the passage to the hearing aid tester, and a resilient surface within the passage that resiliently deforms when the sound emitting portion is received in the passage for retaining the sound emitting portion in the passage. The invention also includes a method of forming the apparatus and a method of testing a hearing aid having a sound emitting portion that fits into the concha or ear canal of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Audiology Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Douglas Lloyd, Matthew Callaway
  • Patent number: 7634094
    Abstract: The invention regards a method for measuring audio response of a real ear using the microphone of a hearing aid of an end user. The following sequence of steps is performed: provide a sound tight connection between the hearing aid microphone and a first end of a soundguiding flexible tube, disable any further microphones in the hearing aid, place a second end of the tube at the location wherefrom sound is to be captured, provide an audio sound signal at the area of the second end of the tube and record the sound guided through the tube to the microphone of the hearing aid, process the recorded sounds to retrieve sound level values. Hereby real ear measurements may be gained with a hearing aid with only one microphone without any additional measuring equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Bernafon AG
    Inventor: Monika Bertges Reber
  • Patent number: 7627127
    Abstract: A hearing aid adjusting apparatus 104 for adjusting a parameter of a hearing aid 101 has an input device 201 for accepting an operation input, a storage 203 for storing the parameter for every predetermined surrounding setting, a controller 202 for controlling the parameter for every surrounding setting, and a display 204 for displaying information about the parameter, and the input device 201 accepts selection of the plural surrounding settings and operates one of the selected surrounding settings, and the controller 202 collectively converts a parameter in the selected surrounding setting based on an operation accepted by the input device 201.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Aida, Hiroshi Kondo, Shigekiyo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20090285406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of adapting signal processing characteristics of a portable communication device to a hearing impaired user, comprising the steps of determining a perceptual reference level (PRL) of a first stimuli signal (FSS) in a reference frequency band (RFB) by presenting said first stimuli signal (FSS) to said hearing impaired user, and obtaining perceptual judgements of a loudness of said first stimuli signal (FSS) from said hearing impaired user, and determining said perceptual reference level (PRL) of a second stimuli signal (SSS) in a further frequency band (FFB) by presenting said second stimuli signal (SSS) to said hearing impaired user, and requesting said hearing impaired user to compare a loudness of said second stimuli signal (SSS) with said loudness of said first stimuli signal (FSS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOUND A/S
    Inventors: SOREN LOUIS PEDERSEN, KJELD HERMANSEN
  • Patent number: 7616767
    Abstract: The method comprises generating an acoustical volume velocity Q in the listening position, measuring a response quantity p, such as sound or vibration, at a suspected source position resulting from the volume velocity Q, and determining the acoustical transfer impedance Zt as the response quantity p divided by the acoustical volume velocity Q, Zt=p/Q. According to the invention the acoustical volume velocity Q is generated using a simulator (10) simulating acoustic properties of at least a head of a human being, the simulator comprising a simulated human ear (14, 15) with an orifice in the simulated head and a sound source (30) for outputting the acoustical volume velocity Q through the orifice. The output volume velocity Q from the orifice of an ear is estimated from measurements with two microphones inside the corresponding ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bruel & Kjaer Sound & Measurement A/S
    Inventors: Klaus Geiger, Christian Glandier, Rolf Helber
  • Publication number: 20090274314
    Abstract: A method for determining a degree of closure in a hearing device with at least one auditory canal microphone, at least one receiver and an associated hearing device apparatus is disclosed. The method is characterized by an in-situ measurement of a transmission function between the receiver and the auditory canal microphone, by a comparison of the measured transmission function with previously determined reference values and/or curves, and by a determination of an effective vent diameter from the comparison, the effective vent diameter specifying the degree of closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Georg-Erwin Arndt, Dirk Junius, Kristin Rohrseitz
  • Patent number: 7613314
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a processor that is programmed to provide a user of the mobile terminal with a hearing test and to determine a set of coefficients. A microphone is configured to receive audio signals therethrough. A digital filter is programmed with the determined set of coefficients and is configured to process the audio signals and transmit the processed audio signals to an earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: William O. Camp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090262948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid comprising at least one signal processing device, at least one counter for detecting discreet events or operating processes, and at least one memory for storing the values or states of the counter, and the threshold values associated with each counter. The hearing aid is also provided with a signal transmitter that is actively connected to the signal processing device in such a way that the signal transmitter is activated when a threshold value of a counter is reached or exceeded. In this way, advantageously, any countable pre-defined events or operating processes can be used to establish and maintain the operating state of the hearing aid. An operating process can be, for example, the variation of a defined operating state of the hearing aid. If a predetermined threshold value is reached, i.e. the number of events reaches this threshold value, a corresponding signal can be triggered and produced by the signal transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Ivo Hasler, Felix Aebersold
  • Publication number: 20090257608
    Abstract: A hearing aid with a drop safeguard has an accelerometer, an electrical circuit, and a memory. The accelerometer generates an electrical signal in dependence on an acceleration of the hearing aid. The signal is transmitted to the electrical circuit which uses this to determine a jerky acceleration of the hearing aid. The electrical circuit saves the respectively current settings of the hearing aid to the memory in the case of a jerky acceleration of the hearing aid. After the hearing aid is dropped, the settings can be reconstructed from the memory so that as a result this prevents the settings of the hearing aid from being changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Leep Foong Chew, Meng Kiang Lim, Chow Lan Stella Yap
  • Patent number: 7599500
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for processing signals representative of sound for conveyance to the auditory system of a subject based on the identity of an input device. In one implementation, a method includes identifying an input element to an audiological system that conveys sound information directly to a subject's auditory system, automatically setting parameters for processing the signal based on the identity of the input element, and processing the signal in accordance with the processing parameters. The input element is configured to generate a signal representative of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Segel, Tissa Karunasiri, Lakshmi N. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7599499
    Abstract: A method for prescribing the initial setting of signal processing parameters in a hearing aid to the needs of a hearing aid user includes gathering and storing in electronic form a first set of data concerning the user's audiological function and gathering and storing in electronic form a second set of data indicating the level of cognitive function possessed by the user. The two sets of data are used in combination for computing at least one suggested initial setting of the signal processing parameters of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Graham Naylor
  • Publication number: 20090245525
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for real ear measurement using a hearing assistance device fitted with a cover to provide real ear sounds to a microphone of the device. The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device cover for use in measuring coupler response and real ear coupler difference for improved real ear measurement and fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Thomas Spaulding
  • Patent number: 7587052
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to make the adjustment of a hearing aid more convenient, for which purpose the frequency response data relating to the frequency response individually measured for the present hearing aid (HG) is stored in a memory device (S) of the hearing aid. As a result the length of a sound tube installed in the hearing aid can also be taken directly into account, for example. For the purpose of adjusting the hearing aid, the individual frequency response can then be read out from the hearing aid, thereby enabling the adjustment process to be performed much more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kasztelan
  • Patent number: 7574917
    Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring in-situ the acoustic attenuation obtained by a hearing protection device worn by a user, comprising: positioning the hearing protection device comprising a microphone oriented towards the user's ear canal at the user's ear; positioning a cup-like measuring device comprising a loudspeaker oriented towards to user's ear and a microphone oriented towards to user's ear at the user's ear in such a manner that a closed space surrounding the hearing protection device is created by the measuring device; providing a test signal via the loudspeaker, capturing audio signals representative of the level of the test signal in the closed space by the microphone of the measuring device and capturing audio signals representative of the level of the test signal in the user's ear canal by the microphone of the hearing protection device; processing the audio signals captured by the microphone of the measuring device and the audio signals captured by the microphone of the hearing protecti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Thomas Von Dach, Samuel Harsch
  • Publication number: 20090202084
    Abstract: A hearing aid contains a microphone detecting an acoustic input signal and converts it to an electrical output signal, a receiver producing an acoustic output signal being dependent on an electrical output signal of the microphone, and a transmitter transmitting a monitoring signal, which is dependent on the electrical output signal. A transceiver contains a receiver for receiving the monitoring signal, and a signal processing device for processing the monitoring signal. The signal processing device processes the monitoring signal to produce an indication signal which is acoustically restricted with respect to the monitoring signal such that it simulates a restricted hearing capability of a person, or which indicates an operating/signal state of the hearing aid. The transmission of the monitoring signal to the transceiver and the processing to form the indication signal provides information about the state of the hearing aid for monitoring of the hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lilyana Joeng, Wee Haw Koo, Meng Kiang Lim, Poh Chye Lim
  • Patent number: 7564979
    Abstract: A system for use with an audio reproduction system that corrects for distortion caused by the system as well as any hearing impairment suffered a listener. Test signals are introduced into the input of the system to produce test sounds that are perceptible by the listener. Using a pushbutton, the listener indicates when a test signal of progressively increasing volume reaches an audible level. The resulting measured values of the listener's threshold of hearing at different frequencies is compared with comparable data for a normal listener to generate correction values that are used to program an equalizer which compensates for not only the listener's hearing impairments but also any distortion produced by system components or room acoustics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Swartz
  • Patent number: 7564980
    Abstract: An immersive hearing loss and auditory prostheses simulator allows a person who listens through the simulation system to experience an actual shift in his or her thresholds for detecting ambient sounds, in a way that is similar to the shift in thresholds experienced by a hearing-impaired person. The simulator shifts the listener's thresholds while also processing the input signals for suprathreshold stimulation. With a controlled degree of auditory threshold shift with loudness recruitment, a hearing loss simulator is made valid and flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sensimetrics Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Zurek, Joseph G. Desloge
  • Publication number: 20090154741
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for customizing a hearing assistance device for a wearer. According to various embodiments, data corresponding to the wearer's acoustic environment is logged using the hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device is fitted by an adaptive fitting process controlled by the wearer, the adaptive fitting process having access to the data logged by the hearing assistance device to customize settings of the hearing assistance device for the wearer. In an embodiment, data related to fitting the hearing assistance device is sent via a network connection to a location accessible by the wearer's audiologist and/or device manufacturer. The sent data is used to create an interactive database, and the database is used for fitting hearing assistance devices for one or more wearers, in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Woods, Brent Edwards
  • Patent number: 7545944
    Abstract: According to the invention, in a hearing instrument it is once or repeatedly checked whether a second hearing instrument is present and active. If a second hearing instrument is active on the contralateral side, a first gain (corresponding to the gain for binaural fitting) is applied. If, however, no further hearing instrument is found to be active, a second—increased—gain is applied. The second gain may simply correspond to the first gain increased by a certain dB value. It may as an alternative be a specifically adapted gain characteristic of a monaural fitting for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro Baumann, Stefan Launer
  • Publication number: 20090136050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fitting and verification of direct bone conduction hearing devices to a patient, wherein a. in a first step the hearing threshold and loudness discomfort levels are measured directly on a titanium implant of a patient, b. in a second step these hearing threshold and loudness discomfort levels are converted to equivalent force thresholds (FHT) and loudness discomfort levels (FLDL) on an artificial skull force measuring device, c. in a final step the output force levels of the direct bone conduction hearing device is measured in a free sound field with the device attached to the said artificial skull force measuring device and compared to the FHT and the FLDL as the base for final adjustments of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Bo Hakansson, William Hodgetts
  • Publication number: 20090129619
    Abstract: A hearing aid (100) comprises at least one first microphone (10) generating a first input signal from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid, signal processing means, a receiver (30) and, a second microphone (40) generating a second input signal from sounds in the occluded ear of the user. In a measurement mode the signal processing means produces an occlusion effect value or directly transmitted sound value from the difference between the sound levels of the second and the first input signals generated both at the same time while the receiver is silent. The invention further provides a system and a method for determining an occlusion effect and a directly transmitted sound value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Morten Agerbak NORDAHN
  • Publication number: 20090123001
    Abstract: A method and a graphics facility are provided to allow a choice of hearing apparatus to be made easier for a user via a three-dimensional presentation of a hearing apparatus on a head of a user. A 3D model of the hearing apparatus is provided as a virtual hearing apparatus and a 3D model of the head of the user or of a part thereof is obtained as a virtual head. The virtual hearing apparatus is subsequently aligned to the virtual head so that the virtual head can be presented graphically in three dimensions along with the fitted virtual hearing apparatus. This especially allows different types and colors of hearing apparatus to be represented in an animation on the user's head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Kiepfer, Wee Haw Koo
  • Publication number: 20090116657
    Abstract: This application relates to a system for fitting a hearing aid by testing the hearing aid patient with a three-dimensional sound field having one or more localized sound sources. In one embodiment, a signal processing system employing head-related transfer functions is used to produce audio signals that simulate a three-dimensional sound field when a sound source driven by such audio signals is coupled directly to one or both ears. By transmitting the audio signals produced by the signal processing system to the hearing aid by means of a wired or wireless connection, the hearing aid itself may be used as the sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Edwards, William S. Woods
  • Publication number: 20090103742
    Abstract: There is described a hearing aid comprising input transducer means for converting input acoustic signals into electrical input signals, signal processor means and output transducer means. The signal processor means is operable to divide said electrical input signals into a plurality of frequency bands and to perform a contrast enhancement operation in each said frequency band, to increase the difference between the amplitudes of those frequency components of the input electrical signals having a relatively high amplitude and those frequency components thereof having a relatively low amplitude to produce output electrical signals in each said respective frequency bands. The output transducer means is operable to produce an output acoustic signal corresponding to a combination of said output electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SWAT/ACR PORTFOLIO LLC
    Inventor: Zlatan Ribic
  • Patent number: 7522739
    Abstract: It is intended that the switching on and off of a hearing aid (I) should be made more user-friendly. To this end the hearing aid (I) is fitted with a temperature sensor (TS) to detect the body heat of the hearing aid wearer and therefore that the hearing aid is inserted in the auditory canal. The hearing aid is then switched on and off again based on the temperature signal. As an alternative to the temperature sensor, it is possible to use a pressure sensor to detect contact pressure of the hearing aid housing on the auditory canal, a resistance sensor to detect an electrical load resistance as a function of volume or an acoustic sensor to detect a sound level. It is also possible to switch the hearing aid (I) on and off wirelessly using a remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Rass, Riku Sinikallio
  • Patent number: 7515720
    Abstract: A method for adapting hearing aids to the individual requirements of a hard-of-hearing patient in situations which are close to reality, wherein an example of a sound and a scene corresponding to said example of a sound are optically indicated to a patient such that the visual impression thereof is also taken into account in order to judge the acoustic result. A suitable device therefor comprises an enclosed area with room for a specialist to carry out the adaptation and room for a patient, a monitor being provided in both places, in addition to a computer which is used by the specialist to carry out said adaptation and which provides the monitors with video sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Audiocare AG
    Inventor: Christoph Schwob
  • Publication number: 20090074197
    Abstract: A method of configuring a frequency transposition scheme for transposing a set of received frequencies of an audio signal received by a hearing aid worn by a subject to a transposed set of frequencies, wherein the method comprises determining at least one subject-dependent parameter indicative of the subject's ability to detect audio frequencies, and at least one subject-dependent parameter indicative of the location in frequency of one or more spectral cues, configuring a subject-dependent frequency transposition scheme based on the determined subject-dependent parameters, the subject-dependent frequency transposition scheme being configured so as to improve the subject's spatial hearing capabilities, and adapting the hearing aid to perform the configured subject-dependent frequency transposition scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Neher, Thomas Behrens
  • Publication number: 20090060214
    Abstract: A system for hearing assistance devices to assist hearing aid fitting applied to individual differences in hearing impairment. The system is also usable for assisting fitting and use of hearing assistance devices for listeners of music. The method uses a subjective space approach to reduce the dimensionality of the fitting problem and a non-linear regression technology to interpolate among hearing aid parameter settings. This listener-driven method provides not only a technique for preferred aid fitting, but also information on individual differences and the effects of gain compensation on different musical styles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: David Wessel, Eric Battenberg, Andrew Schmeder, Kelly Fitz, Brent Edwards
  • Patent number: 7496205
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting a first hearing device based on adjustments of a second hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of converting an acoustic test signal into an electric test signal by a microphone of the second hearing device, of converting an acoustic signal generated by a receiver of the second hearing device into an electrical signal, of analyzing the electrical signal in an analyzing unit, and, finally, of adjusting the first hearing device based on results obtained in the analysis performed in the analyzing unit. By the present invention, an especially suitable procedure for performing the initial adjustment of a new hearing device is achieved. The method according to the present invention quickly leads to spontaneous user acceptance of the newly adjusted (i.e. fitted) hearing device, whilst considerably reducing the required fitting effort compared with today's state of the art techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Volker Kühnel
  • Publication number: 20090028351
    Abstract: A method for use in the fitting of a hearing aid comprises the steps of providing a sound recording of a user environment, feeding the sound recording to the hearing aid as a sound input signal (8a), processing the sound input signal according to a scheme defined by preselected settings of a number of parameters so as to provide a processed signal (8b), adjusting the setting of at least one parameter, performing a statistical analysis of the magnitude of the processed signal or of the input signal in at least one frequency band, which statistical analysis is reset when a parameter is adjusted during the fitting, and displaying a graphical representation (10, 11) of the results of said statistical analysis. The invention also provides a system for fitting a hearing aid and a hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Svend Vitting ANDERSEN
  • Publication number: 20090022346
    Abstract: [Problems] To easily associate the parameters representing the acoustic characteristic of a hearing aid with the audibility of the hearing aid user, shorten the time for adjusting the hearing aid, and improve the accuracy of the adjustment of the parameter. [Means for Solving Problems] By applying a two-dimensional matrix for changing the acoustic parameters of the hearing aid, a person adjusting the hearing aid can easily change the acoustic parameters depending on the audibility of the hearing aid user, the accuracy of the adjustment of the acoustic parameters is improved, and the period of time for adjusting the hearing aid is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kondo, Shigekiyo Fujii, Yoshiyuki Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 7464595
    Abstract: A portable audiometer for performing hearing testing enclosed within a patient response mechanism housing is disclosed. The audiometer may include a printed circuit board containing circuitry, plugs or other connectors for wired or wireless headphones and bone conductor, a battery charging unit, and one or more buttons for indicating response to pure tone and other stimuli, including, but not limited to noise, speech, and visual and audio instructions and graphical representations of objects or concepts used in a comprehensive hearing test. The instrument can be connected via a wired or wireless interface to a variety of controlling devices, including PC's, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), cellular phones, smartphones, including hybrid phone and PDA, and other devices such as media players, gaming systems, personal audio players, and other devices that can operatively communicate with the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Otovation, LLC
    Inventor: David M. Davis