A “speaker” operating mode is established by a signal processor of a hearing aid for tracking and selecting an acoustic speaker source in an ambient sound. Electric acoustic signals are generated by the hearing aid from the ambient sound that has been picked up, from which signals an electric speaker signal is selected by the signal processor by a database of speech profiles of preferred speakers. The electric speech signal is selectively taken into account in an output sound of the hearing aid in such a way that it will for the hearing-aid wearer acoustically at least be prominent compared with another acoustic source and consequently be better perceived by the hearing-aid wearer.

Method for operating a hearing aid, and hearing aid

Pressure sensing earbuds and systems are disclosed. The earbuds can include one or more pressure sensors to determine the size and shape of a user's ear. The pressure signals can be relayed back to a processor, which may use them to dynamically optimize the volume levels delivered for frequencies over the audible range for a particular user.

Pressure sensing earbuds and systems and methods for the use thereof

A hearing aid comprising a first sensor for sensing a first parameter indicative of a use situation of the hearing aid, wherein the hearing aid is adapted to change into a high power mode or a low power mode in response to the a first control signal from the first sensor. A second sensor for sensing a second parameter indicative of a use situation of the hearing aid may also be used as well.

Hearing Aid With A Sensor For Changing Power State Of The Hearing Aid

A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for calibrating one or more wireless earpieces. An indication that the calibration of the one or more wireless earpieces is required is received. Sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces are calibrated in response to receiving the indication. Calibration information is analyzed. A determination is made whether the calibration is successful utilizing the calibration information.

In-ear sensor calibration and detecting system and method

A device for acoustic analysis has a first hearing device with a first sound input and a first sound output and a second hearing device with a second sound input and a second sound output. The first hearing device is in acoustic communication with the second hearing device. The first hearing device can analyze the acoustic communication and output a corresponding result. Consequently, two hearing aids, for example, can test each other, and permit a user to check hearing devices and, in particular, hearing aids in a simple fashion without the hearing aid wearer having to visit an audiologist for the test.

Device for acoustically analyzing a hearing device and analysis method

The present subject matter relates generally to hearing assistance systems and in particular to method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance system using micro electro-mechanical structure sensors. Such benefits include the reduction of the ampclusion effect and other excessive sound pressure buildup in the residual air volume of the ear canal for a person wearing a hearing assistance device with an earmold.

Method and apparatus for a hearing assistance device using mems sensors

The present disclosure includes various methods and apparatus for controlling directionality of a hearing assistance device including a pair of directional microphones. In various examples, the hearing assistance device includes a pair of directional microphones and an omnidirectional microphone. In various examples, the hearing assistance device includes a directional microphone and an omnidirectional microphone. In examples with multiple directional microphones, various angles can be employed. For example, in some applications the first directional axis can be about ninety degrees offset of the second directional axis. The microphones are aligned with an intended direction of reception in some embodiments. In some examples the microphones are not aligned with an intended direction of reception. Other variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.

Microphone placement in hearing assistance devices to provide controlled directivity

A system and method for testing and measuring hearing assistance devices using a plane wave tube is provided According to an embodiment, a hearing assistance device is mounted proximal to an acoustic waveguide having a soundfield with acoustic waves propagating down the waveguide A microphone of the hearing assistance device is placed in the soundfield of the acoustic waveguide to increase a direct acoustic component and to reduce reflected acoustic components and scattered acoustic components of sound sensed by the microphone Sound is generated using a sound generator to propagate sound of desired frequencies down the waveguide

System for testing hearing assistance devices using a planar waveguide

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.

Constrained layer damping for hearing assistance devices

The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for processing sound by a hearing assistance device. In one example, the present subject matter is an apparatus for processing sound for a hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone adapted for reception of the sound and to create a sound signal relating to the sound; a transducer that produces an output voltage related to motion; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and the transducer, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and the output voltage, the signal processor performing a vibration detection algorithm adapted to adjust hearing assistance device settings for a detected activity; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor.

Thomas Howard Burns

Papers

Method and apparatus for a hearing assistance device using mems sensors

Microphone placement in hearing assistance devices to provide controlled directivity

System for testing hearing assistance devices using a planar waveguide

Constrained layer damping for hearing assistance devices

Method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance device using a vibration sensor