Abstract: A listening device for processing an input sound to an output sound, includes an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal, an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, a forward path being defined between the input transducer and the output transducer and including a signal processing unit for processing an input signal in a number of frequency bands and an SBS unit for performing spectral band substitution from one frequency band to another and providing an SBS-processed output signal, and an LG-estimator unit for estimating loop gain in each frequency band thereby identifying plus-bands having an estimated loop gain according to a plus-criterion and minus-bands having an estimated loop gain according to a minus-criterion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improved feedback cancellation for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments the present acoustic feedback cancellation system is configured to identify the onset of acoustic feedback. This early detection is accomplished in a variety of ways, including detection of an exponential rise in a periodic signal which is associated with early acoustic feedback. The present system is very rapid and so it can operate when the conditions surrounding the hearing aid change quickly. It also is useful to not impose feedback cancellation to longer notes that will “fool” less sophisticated acoustic feedback cancellers into thinking the sound is feedback.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for entrainment containment in digital filters using output phase modulation. Phase change is gradually introduced into the acoustic feedback canceller loop to avoid entrainment of the feedback canceller filter. Various embodiments employing different output phase modulation approaches are set forth and time and frequency domain examples are provided. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: A hearing aid system may include an ear-mould for a child, an output transducer, and an electrical feedback path. A forward path includes a signal processor that modifies an electrical input signal to a specific hearing profile over a predefined frequency range which includes a number of frequency bands. Maximum forward gain values IGmax for each band are stored in a memory, restricting loop gain to a predetermined value in each band. The hearing aid system further includes a relatively slow online feedback manager unit configured to, with a predefined update frequency, identify current feedback gain in each frequency band, and to subsequently adapt the maximum forward gain values IGmax in each of the frequency bands in accordance with a predefined scheme. The feedback manager unit is thus reduces the risk of howling by decreasing the maximum forward gain values IGmax in said ear-mould for a child.

Abstract: In a multiband compressor 100, a level calculation unit 121 calculates a signal level inputted for each of bands, a gain calculation unit 122 calculates a gain value from the calculated signal level, and a gain limitation unit 130 limits a gain value by comparison with a gain value of the other band in a compressor for each band. With this configuration, provided is a multiband compressor capable of achieving a balance between the quality of sound and the effect of enhancing the sound level at a high level.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing instrument to reduce feedback by placing a hearing instrument having an adjustable frequency response in a wearer's ear, providing a probe microphone for measuring the sound pressure level inside the ear and a reference microphone for measuring the sound pressure level outside the ear, exposing the ear to a stimulus and a dynamic event, determining the gain as a function of frequency from the difference in sound pressure level measured by the probe microphone and the reference microphone, identifying a feedback peak where the frequency is in the center of a range of frequencies and corresponds to the maximum gain in that range of frequencies and adjusting the hearing instrument to reduce the gain at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the feedback peak.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for allocating feedback cancellation resources for improved acoustic feedback cancellation for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone and process them according to a plurality of processing blocks. The processor is adapted to include an event detector that can provide detection of an event and an output to adjust one or more processing blocks of the overall process to more efficiently use resources of the processor for the event detected, in various embodiments.

Abstract: A method, including operating an adaptive system of a hearing prosthesis, and determining one or more feedback path parameters of the hearing prosthesis based on the operation of the adaptive system of the hearing prosthesis.

Abstract: Multi-stage filter bank systems with filter banks of different bandwidth frequently cause interference in hearing apparatuses and in particular in hearing devices. Therefore a hearing apparatus is proposed with a filter bank system having a multi-stage analysis filter bank and/or a multi-stage synthesis filter bank, to break down an input signal of the hearing apparatus into a number of partial band signals by way of a number of filter bank channels and/or to recombine partial band signals of a number of filter bank channels. The filter bank system is equipped with at least one equalization filter, to equalize differences in the complex frequency responses between filter bank channels. It is thus possible in particular to equalize group delay time differences as well as attenuation and/or amplification.

Abstract: A listening device includes an input transducer, an output transducer, a signal processor, and a feedback cancellation system for estimating acoustic feedback. The feedback cancellation system includes an adaptive FBC filter arranged in parallel to the forward path, an adaptive whitening filter, and a howl detection unit that performs howl detection based on an output of the adaptive whitening filter. The adaptive FBC filter includes a variable FBC filter part and an FBC update algorithm part for updating the variable FBC filter part, the FBC update algorithm part receiving first and second FBC algorithm input signals influenced by the electrical input and the electrical output signals. Further, the feedback cancellation system receives an electrical update signal essentially consisting of the direct part of the electrical input signal and coefficients of the adaptive whitening filter are based on the electrical update signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a BTE hearing aid housing configured to be worn behind a pinna of a user and accommodating at least one BTE sound input transducer configured for conversion of acoustic sound into a BTE audio sound signal; an ITE microphone housing configured to be positioned in an outer ear of the user and accommodating at least one ITE microphone configured for conversion of acoustic sound into an ITE audio sound signal and accommodated by the ITE microphone housing; a signal detector configured for determination of ITE signal magnitudes of the ITE audio sound signal at a plurality of frequencies, and determination of BTE signal magnitudes of the BTE audio sound signal at the plurality of frequencies; and a gain processor configured for determining gain values at respective frequencies of the plurality of frequencies based on the ITE signal magnitudes and the BTE signal magnitudes.

Abstract: A method of signal processing an input signal in a hearing aid to avoid entrainment, the hearing aid including a receiver and a microphone, the method comprising using an adaptive filter to measure an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone and adjusting an adaptation rate of the adaptive filter using an output from a filter having an autoregressive portion, the output derived at least in part from a ratio of a predictive estimate of the input signal to a difference of the predictive estimate and the input signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with selective notch filtering for howling suppression are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a howling detector that detects howling by performing a time domain analysis of speech signals to identify a speech signal that may be exhibiting howling and performing frequency domain analysis to confirm that the speech signal is exhibiting howling. The apparatus also includes a suppression selector configured to select a suppression technique, a signal processor configured to process the speech signal according to a selected suppression technique. The apparatus outputs, without suppression-related processing, speech signals that are not identified based on the time domain analysis.

Abstract: A method is provided for adapting a feedback suppression device of a hearing device to a given situation in order to improve the quality of feedback suppression in hearing devices and in hearing aids in particular. In the method an adaptation procedure of the feedback suppression device is periodically activated and adaptation of the feedback suppression device is performed regularly even if a feedback detector does not detect a feedback situation. A feedback suppression device for a hearing device is also provided.

Abstract: A method for the operation of a hearing device with at least one receiver includes carrying out a fixed second frequency shift of an electrical receiver signal supplying the receiver or of a predefinable frequency range of the receiver signal and a variable first frequency shift of the receiver signal or of a predefinable frequency range of the receiver signal. The first frequency shift is changed depending on the occurring feedback. A frequency shift which effectively prevents feedback is advantageously carried out, while artifacts of the frequency shift are minimized.

Abstract: The adjustment of a hearing device with regard to a current feedback path is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. For this purpose, provision is made for hearing aid equipment, in particular a hearing device or a non-programmable device such as a headset, including a measuring device for measuring a feedback path and an operating facility for operating the hearing aid equipment by the wearer. The operating facility allows a measurement cycle to be activated to determine at least one characteristic of the feedback path. The hearing aid wearer can thus make adjustments themselves in terms of the feedback path and therefore does not have to rely on an acoustician.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed. An example sound processor is disclosed. The example sound processor includes a module configured to identify a feedback artifact in a current sample of an input spectral component by determining that a change in a signal level of an input spectral component is approximately equal to a predicted change. The predicted change may be based on one or more characteristics of an external feedback loop. Responsive to identifying the feedback artifact, the sound processor is further configured to apply a modification to a parameter used to process the input spectral component. The modification reduces a likelihood of including audible feedback in a processed input spectral component.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system includes a processor arranged to communicate a stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of a first hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from a first transducer of a second hearing prosthesis. A processor calculates a feedback associated with the stimulation. The processor may also be further configured to adjust a gain table or an input to a feedback reduction algorithm in response to the calculated feedback. Additionally, the processor of the hearing prosthesis system may also be arranged to communicate a second stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of the second hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from the first hearing prosthesis. Further, the processor calculates a second feedback associated with the second stimulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods for reducing feedback between a transducer and a microphone in a magnetic bone conduction hearing aid. Such systems, devices, components and methods include providing encapsulation compartments for the transducer and/or the microphone, and providing an acoustically-isolating housing for the microphone that is separate and apart from the main housing of the hearing aid.

Abstract: A hearing aid device has an input converter for receiving an input signal and converting the signal into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit for processing and frequency-dependent amplification of the electrical input signal and generating an electrical output signal, an output converter for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, and a sound detector facility for identifying sounds in a signal. Facilities increase an amplification above a normal amplification for a frequency range in which an identified sound contains signal components. Further facilities set the normal amplification of an electrical input signal in dependence on a signal frequency. The amplification is restricted to a maximum amplification in a specific frequency range. The amplification exceeds the normal amplification or the maximum amplification for the duration of the identified sound and at most for a duration which lies below a setting time of a feedback whistling.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first signal input unit configure to receive a first signal, a second signal input unit configure to receive a signal, a first control unit configure to acquire system resources, a second control unit configure to select, in accordance with information of the system resources acquired by the first control unit, a processing method for suppressing at least one of echo and noise of the second signal input from the second signal input unit containing the echo due to the first signal input from the first signal input unit, a third control unit configure to generate an output signal by suppressing at least one of the echo and the noise from the second signal by the processing method selected by the second control unit, and a signal output unit configure to output the output signal generated by the third control unit.

Abstract: A listening device system includes two listening devices, each having its own separate housing. The first device includes an input transducer housed within the housing for converting an input sound to an electrical input signal which includes a direct and an acoustic feedback part, and a feedback cancellation system. The feedback cancellation system includes an adaptive FBC filter including a variable FBC filter part, and an FBC update algorithm part for updating the variable FBC filter part. The FBC update algorithm part receives first and second input signals influenced by the electrical input and the electrical output signals. The second listening device includes an input transducer housed within its housing producing an electrical update signal essentially consisting of the direct part of said electrical input signal. The update signal is conveyed from the second device to the first device, where feedback cancellation parameters are adjusted based on that signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for constrained layer damping for hearing assistance devices. According to various embodiments, a hollow in-the-ear (ITE) hearing instrument shell is formed. The shell has an air space within a wall of the shell, in various embodiments. A port is created in the wall of the shell. The port is adapted to interface the air space to an area outside the shell, in an embodiment. A viscous fluid is dispensed into the air space via the port, and the viscous fluid is cured within the air space. The cured fluid acts as a constrained layer of mechanical damping within the wall of the ITE shell, reducing audible feedback to a wearer of the ITE.

Abstract: The present application relates to a new type of hearing device housing having a canal section that is adapted for fitting in the ear canal of a wearer and having a short vent, the longitudinal extension of which is shorter than the longitudinal extension of the canal section, and an output port for emission of sound towards the eardrum of the wearer when inserted in the ear canal, and an outer ear section for accommodation of electronic components and being attached to the canal section and adapted for positioning in front of the ear during use, the short vent reducing the occlusion effect, wherein the canal section comprises an open and flexible earpiece manufactured in standard sizes. The hearing device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, etc. Unlike a conventional BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid having a housing to be positioned behind the ear, the housing of the hearing device according to the present invention is positioned in front of the ear, i.e. in front of the pinna.

Abstract: In a hearing aid having a microphone to be arranged at a body of a user for capturing ambient sound, a loudspeaker for outputting the ambient sound after having been amplified on a frequency-dependent basis, and a signal processor, the signal processor is configured to amplify the sound such that the amplified sound is audible to the user, and to automatically re-adjust the gain by the following steps: selecting a tone having a specific frequency; outputting the tone and the amplified ambient sound via the loudspeaker as an output sound; capturing via said microphone an analysis sound composed of ambient sound and of a reflection of said output sound; extracting a reflection of the tone from the captured analysis sound; and determining a reflection component for the specific frequency of the tone; adjusting the gain in frequency-specific manner and based on the determined reflection component.

Abstract: An earpiece is provided that can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to measure ambient sound, an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) to deliver audio to an ear canal, an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to measure a sound pressure level within the ear canal, and a processor to produce the audio from at least in part the ambient sound, actively monitor a sound exposure level inside the ear canal, and adjust a level of the audio to within a safe and subjectively optimized listening level range based on the sound exposure level. An audio interface can deliver audio content from a media player. The processor can selectively mix the audio content with the ambient sound to produce the audio in accordance with a personalized hearing level (PHL) to permit environmental awareness of at least one distinct sound in the ambient sound. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a feedback monitor connected to the adaptive feedback canceller and configured to monitor a state of feedback and having an output providing an indication of the state of feedback; and a cue controller connected to the feedback monitor and the at least one adaptive cue filter, and configured to control, in response to an output of the feedback monitor, the at least one adaptive cue filter so that the difference between the output of the at least one ITE microphone and the combined output of the at least one adaptive cue filter is reduced.

Abstract: Improved approaches of designing and fitting hearing aids to make hearing aids more accessible to people with hearing loss are disclosed. The hearing aids can be capable of being fitted by users themselves or by other non-hearing specialists. In one embodiment a hearing aid can be self-calibrating. In another embodiment, hearing aids can be fitted, i.e., configured, for individuals with hearing loss using a simplified procedure that hearing aid users or non-hearing specialists can easily follow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a feedback reduction system for used in a hearing prosthesis. The hearing prosthesis will receive an input signal, process the input signal, and create a transformed output. However, the hearing prosthesis may suffer from feedback. Thus, a system to minimize the feedback in a hearing prosthesis may be desirable. One system to minimize the feedback includes down-sample circuitry configured to down-sample a first signal, creating a down-sampled signal. They system also includes a filter circuit. The filter circuit filters both the first signal and the down-sampled signal. The filter will output a filtered signal and a filtered down-sampled signal, respectively. Additionally, the system features up-sample circuitry that up-samples the filtered down-sampled signal. The output of the up-sample circuitry is an up-sampled signal. Further, the system features combining circuitry that creates a feedback-reduced signal based on the up-sampled signal, the filtered signal, and an input signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatuses for hearing assistance low profile offset spouts. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a hearing assistance spout consisting of a one-piece spout with a curved path to an off-axis (e.g., offset) port. The spout may be manufactured using metal injection molding to provide for a reflow solder attachment to the hearing assistance microphone. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to placing a full-sized spout off-axis while maintaining an open state that does not restrict the acoustic path, which may allow the offset spout to include a radial seal independent of the microphone body itself. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to an offset spout including a sealed acoustic barrier wall to protect the acoustic inlet of the microphone from debris or moisture.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises at least one microphone (M) for converting input sound into an input signal, a subtraction node for subtracting a feedback cancellation signal from the input signal thereby generating a processor input signal, a hearing aid processor (G) for producing a processor output signal by applying an amplification gain to the processor input signal, a receiver (R) for converting the processor output signal into output sound, an adaptive feedback cancellation filter for adaptively deriving the feedback cancellation signal from the processor output signal by applying filter coefficients, calculation means for calculating the autocorrelation of a reference signal, and an adaptation means for adjusting the filter coefficients with an adaptation rate, wherein the adaptation rate is controlled in dependency of the autocorrelation of the reference signal.

Abstract: A fitting device for fitting a hearing device to compensate for a hearing loss of a user is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a receiver and a microphone, wherein a feedback path exists between the receiver and the microphone, wherein the hearing device further comprises an adaptive feedback canceller configured to reduce feedback, the adaptive feedback canceller comprising a fixed filter corresponding to an invariant portion of the feedback path, and an adaptive filter corresponding to a variant portion of the feedback path, the fitting device comprising a processor configured to determine the invariant portion of the feedback path, wherein the processor is configured to provide the fixed filter with information relating to the invariant portion of the feedback path independently of the user using the hearing device.

Abstract: A system of signal processing an input signal in a hearing assistance device to avoid entrainment wherein the hearing assistance device including a receiver and a microphone, the method comprising using an adaptive filter to estimate an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone, generating one or more estimated future pole positions of a transfer function of the adaptive filter, analyzing stability of the one or more estimated pole positions for an indication of entrainment and adjusting the adaptation of the adaptive filter based on the stability.

Abstract: A hearing device has a signal-processing apparatus for processing an input signal into an output signal, and a feedback-canceller apparatus for reducing feedback artifacts on the basis of the input signal and the output signal. The feedback-canceller apparatus has an adaptive, first filter, for establishing a set of filter coefficients for a predefined feedback situation. The feedback-canceller apparatus is configured to store the set of filter coefficients. It has at least one second filter, which can be operated directly parallel to the first filter on the basis of the stored set of filter coefficients. The adaptive, first filter can be continuously adapted to a current feedback situation, and the feedback-canceller apparatus is configured such that in the current feedback situation it automatically selects either the first or the second filter. As a result, it generally only requires a simple switchover, but not a complete adaptation.

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.

Abstract: Methods for audio processing suitable for use with an earpiece are provided. A method includes delivering audio to an ear canal, measuring a residual background noise level within the ear canal, and adjusting the audio based on characteristics of the residual background noise level to maintain a natural audio level. A mixing of an ambient sound signal and an ear canal signal can be used to calculate the residual background noise level. The method can include compensating the residual measurement based on microphone sensitivities.

Abstract: This document provides a hearing assistance device for playing processed sound inside a wearer's ear canal, the hearing assistance device comprising a first housing, signal processing electronics disposed at least partially within the first housing, a first microphone connected to the first housing, the first microphone adapted for reception of sound, a second microphone configured to receive sound from inside the wearer's ear canal when the hearing assistance device is worn and in use and microphone mixing electronics in communication with the signal processing electronics and in communication with the first microphone and the second microphone, the microphone mixing electronics adapted to combine low frequency information from the first microphone and high frequency information from the second microphone to produce a composite audio signal.

Abstract: A fitting device for fitting a hearing device to compensate for a hearing loss of a user is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a receiver and a microphone, wherein a feedback path exists between the receiver and the microphone, wherein the hearing device further comprises an adaptive feedback canceller configured to reduce feedback, the adaptive feedback canceller comprising a fixed filter corresponding to an invariant portion of the feedback path, and an adaptive filter corresponding to a variant portion of the feedback path, the fitting device comprising a processor configured to determine the invariant portion of the feedback path, wherein the processor is configured to provide the fixed filter with information relating to the invariant portion of the feedback path independently of the user using the hearing device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes an electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) system associated with a user 1) processing sounds sensed by a first microphone coupled to a cochlear implant portion of the EAS system, 2) applying electrical stimulation representative of the sounds sensed by the first microphone by way of a plurality of electrode contacts located in a basal region of a cochlea of the user, 3) processing sounds sensed by a second microphone coupled to a hearing aid portion of the EAS system, 4) broadcasting, way of a speaker, amplified sound signals representative of the sounds sensed by the second microphone into an ear canal of the user, and 5) acoustically separating the second microphone from the speaker to avoid feedback within the hearing aid portion of the EAS system. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining an operating state of an earpiece of a personal acoustic device and/or the entirety of the personal acoustic device through tests to determine the current operating state, wherein the tests differ depending on a current power mode of the personal acoustic device, and wherein at least one lower power test is employed during at least one lower power mode.

Abstract: A hearing aid system includes an input transducer, an output transducer, and an electrical signal path between them. The signal path includes a signal processing unit. An electrical feedback cancellation path is formed between the output side and the input side of the signal path and subtracts an estimate of acoustical feedback from a signal on the input side of the amplifier part, the electrical feedback cancellation path including an adaptive filter for providing a variable filtering function. A probe signal generator generates a probe signal characterizing an acoustical feedback path, the probe signal being fed to the adaptive filter of the electrical feedback cancellation path. A second input transducer is located at a position where the acoustical signal is substantially free from acoustic feedback from the output transducer, and the adaptive filter uses a signal derived from the second electrical input signal to influence its filtering function.

Abstract: A method of signal processing an input signal in a hearing aid to avoid entrainment, the hearing aid including a receiver and a microphone, the method comprising using an adaptive filter to measure an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone and adjusting an adaptation rate of the adaptive filter using an output from a filter having an autoregressive portion, the output derived at least in part from a ratio of a predictive estimate of the input signal to a difference of the predictive estimate and the input signal.

Abstract: Provided is a hearing aid system including: a first processor that fast Fourier transforms N input signal tone data output from an input buffer memory, and then executes nonlinear compression; a second processor that inverse fast Fourier transforms amplitude spectrum data; an output buffer memory that stores the voice signal tone data, until the number of the voice signal tone data is N; and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter that converts the digital voice signal tone data into an analog signal, to then output the analog signal to a receiver. Thus, certain ambient noise due to an acoustic feedback signal and a narrow frequency band that occur in a hearing aid is removed, to thus reduce discomforts due to the acoustic feedback noise of the hearing aid for hearing aid users, and to thereby significantly improve speech discrimination.

Abstract: A method for a multi microphone noise reduction in a complex noisy environment is proposed. A left and a right noise power spectral density for a left and a right noise input frame is estimated for computing a diffuse noise gain. A target speech power spectral density is extracted from the noise input frame. A directional noise gain is calculated from the target speech power spectral density and the noise power spectral density. The noisy input frame is filtered by Kalman filtering method. A Kalman based gain is generated from the Kalman filtered noisy frame and the noise power spectral density. A spectral enhancement gain is computed by combining the diffuse noise gain, the directional noise gain, and the Kalman based gain. The method reduces different combinations of diverse background noise and increases speech intelligibility, while guaranteeing to preserve the interaural cues of the target speech and directional background noises.

Abstract: A call other than a conversion partner call and various sounds are detected by input audio signals from plural microphones without deteriorating a voice recognition precision. A hearing aid apparatus according to the present invention corrects a frequency characteristic of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice based on an arrival direction of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice, which is estimated based on the audio signal converted by the plural microphones, checks a call word standard pattern representing features of a phoneme and a syllabic sound based on other voice data picked up by using the microphones having one characteristic against a call voice other than the conversation partner voice in which the frequency characteristic is corrected by the frequency characteristic correction processing unit to determine whether the call voice is a call word, and forms a directivity in the direction other than the arrival direction of the voice of the conversation partner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the performance of an in-the-canal hearing aid by temporarily increasing the adaptation speed of an adaptive feedback cancellation filter in response to sudden changes in the acoustic feedback path. The hearing aid employs a sound producing transducer (e.g., a speaker) mounted in a user's open ear canal along with a sound responsive transducer (e.g., a microphone) and a second sound responsive transducer also mounted in the ear canal and spaced a fixed distance from the first sound responsive transducer. The output signals from the first and second sound responsive transducers are applied to a digital processor which compares the respective output signals to detect impedance changes in the audio feedback path. The detected occurrence of an impedance change is then used to influence the adaptation speed of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing feedback in a hearing aid adapted to be worn by a user, the method comprising the step of: receiving an audio input signal in an input transducer in the hearing aid; wherein the method further comprises the steps of: transforming the input signal into the frequency domain; dividing the audio signal into a plurality of frequency bands; determining a threshold frequency over which a plurality of upper frequency bands lies; multiplying each of the plurality of upper frequency bands by a random phase, thereby obtaining a plurality of phase randomized upper frequency bands; synthesizing the plurality of phase randomized upper frequency bands and the lower frequency bands to an output signal; transforming the output signal into the time-domain; and transmitting the output signal to an output transducer of the hearing aid.

Abstract: A multiband dynamics compressor implements a solution for minimizing unwanted changes to the long-term frequency response. The solution essentially proposes undoing the multiband compression in a controlled manner using much slower smoothing times. In this regard, the compensation provided acts more like an equalizer than a compressor. What is applied is a very slowly time-varying, frequency-dependent post-gain (make-up gain) that attempts to restore the smoothed long-term level of each compressor band.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for entrainment containment in digital filters using output phase modulation. Phase change is gradually introduced into the acoustic feedback canceller loop to avoid entrainment of the feedback canceller filter. Various embodiments employing different output phase modulation approaches are set forth and time and frequency domain examples are provided. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

Abstract: An acoustic conversion device includes: a driving unit including magnets, a yoke, a coil, a vibrating portion, and an armature fixed to the yoke; a diaphragm unit including a holding frame fixed to the driving unit, with one face as a first-joint face jointed to the driving unit, and the other face as a second-joint face, a resin film adhered to the holding frame, a diaphragm held on the holding frame, and a beam portion propagating vibration from the vibrating portion to the diaphragm; and a storage unit including a case body for storing the driving unit and diaphragm unit; with the driving unit and diaphragm unit being stored in the case body, the case body being pressed against and deforming a sealing agent loaded in the second-joint face, from a side facing the second-joint face, thereby sealing each gap between the case body, cover body, and holding frame.