Abstract: A beacon device adapted to wirelessly communicate with a hearing assistance device, the beacon device comprising a sensor to sense a signal related to determination of an acoustic environment, a memory to store information relating to the signal, a processor in communication with the memory and the sensor, the processor adapted to process the information, a wireless transmitter in communication with the memory and an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver to transmit information to the hearing assistance device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: A system is provided for training and improvement of noise reduction in hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments the system includes a hearing assistance device having a microphone configured to detect sound. A memory is configured to store background noise detected by the microphone and configured to store a previous recording of speech. A processor includes a training module coupled to the memory and configured to perform training on a binary classifier using programmable feature extraction applied to a sum of the speech and the noise. The processor is configured to process the sound using an output of the binary classifier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved fitting and programming of hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a system for fitting a hearing assistance device. In one embodiment, the system includes a programmer and a hearing assistance device configured to receive a transmission including commands and information from the programmer. The programmer is configured to receive voice commands for fitting the hearing assistance device and to initiate transmissions to the hearing assistance device using speech recognition, in various embodiments. The transmissions are used to provide control of the function or settings of the hearing assistance device. In one embodiment the programmer includes a personal computer. The programmer includes a cellular telephone, in one embodiment. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for environment detection and adaptation in hearing assistance devices. Performance of feature extraction and environment detection to perform adaptation to hearing assistance device operation for a number of hearing assistance environments. The system detecting various noise sources independent of speech. The system determining adaptive actions to take place based on predicted sound class. The system providing individually customizable response to inputs from different sound classes. In various embodiments, the system employing a Bayesian classifier to perform sound classifications using a priori probability data and training data for predetermined sound classes. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: A method and system for flexibly transferring data from one or more data sources to one or more data destinations within an information network where each of the one or more data sources have data in a particular source format and each of the one or more data destinations have data in the same or another particular destination format using a parameter database that includes parameters to control the transfer of data, a scheduler that initiates the transfer of data, and a data loader in communications with the parameter database and scheduler that, upon initiation by the scheduler, extracts data from the one or more data sources, manipulates the extracted source data into one or more destination formats associated with the one or more data destinations, and inserts the data into one or more data destinations according to the parameters within the parameter database.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for diagnosing operation errors in hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids. The hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a receiver. In various approaches, a housing is configured to hold the hearing assistance device and to provide a controlled acoustic environment between the microphone and receiver. A lid is configured to cover an opening in the housing to seal the housing from external sounds, in various approaches. In some examples, the hearing assistance device is configured to detect placement of the lid on the housing from within the housing and, once placement is detected, output acoustic signals through the receiver and compare resulting microphone input to baseline parameters to diagnose calibration errors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improved noise reduction for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone. The processor is configured to perform noise reduction which adjusts maximum gain reduction as a function of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and which reduces the strength of its maximum gain reduction for intermediate signal-to-noise ratio levels to reduce speech distortion. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device includes a memory configured to log noise reduction data for user environments. Also provided are methods to further adjust the noise reduction based on the logged information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for binaural noise reduction for hearing assistance devices using information generated at a first hearing assistance device and information received from a second hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the present subject matter provides a gain measurement for noise reduction using information from a second hearing assistance device that is transferred at a lower bit rate or bandwidth by the use of coding for further quantization of the information to reduce the amount of information needed to make a gain calculation at the first hearing assistance device. The present subject matter can be used for hearing aids with wireless or wired connections.

Abstract: A beacon device adapted to wirelessly communicate with a hearing assistance device, the beacon device comprising a sensor to sense a signal related to determination of an acoustic environment, a memory to store information relating to the signal, a processor in communication with the memory and the sensor, the processor adapted to process the information, a wireless transmitter in communication with the memory and an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver to transmit information to the hearing assistance device.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method and system for flexibly transferring data from one or more data sources to one or more data destinations within an information network where each of the one or more data sources have data in a particular source format and each of the one or more data destinations have data in the same or another particular destination format using a parameter database that includes parameters to control the transfer of data, a scheduler that initiates the transfer of data, and a data loader in communications with the parameter database and scheduler that, upon initiation by the scheduler, extracts data from the one or more data sources, manipulates the extracted source data into one or more destination formats associated with the one or more data destinations, and inserts the data into one or more data destinations according to the parameters within the parameter database.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for environment detection and adaptation in hearing assistance devices. Performance of feature extraction and environment detection to perform adaptation to hearing assistance device operation for a number of hearing assistance environments. The system detecting various noise sources independent of speech. The system determining adaptive actions to take place based on predicted sound class. The system providing individually customizable response to inputs from different sound classes. In various embodiments, the system employing a Bayesian classifier to perform sound classifications using a priori probability data and training data for predetermined sound classes. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit at least one feedback component of an input audio signal by adjusting a feedback-inhibiting filter through a narrowband subaudible signal. The level of the signal may be determined using an audibility model so as to yield its subaudible quality.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit at least one feedback component of an input audio signal by adjusting a feedback-inhibiting filter through a narrowband subaudible signal. The level of the signal may be determined using an audibility model so as to yield its subaudible quality.

Abstract: A system for measuring speech content in sound. The system determining time local speech-to-noise ratio for one or more bands. The system using a signal related to the power of the input signal or envelope and generating a time-dependent mean of the envelope and deviation of the envelope from the mean to estimate a time-dependent speech-to-noise ratio. The system providing single band or multiband speech-to-noise estimates for signal processing applications. The system realizable in analog, digital or analog and digital combinations.