Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Christophe Daniel Micheyl

Christine Marie Tan

Sridhar Kalluri

Joyce Rosenthal

Henning Schepker

Jumana Harianawala

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for eardrum acoustic pressure estimation for hearing device applications. A receiver signal is produced through a receiver of a hearing device, or a physical extension of the receiver, placed inside an ear canal of a user. A microphone signal is sensed, in response to the receiver signal, using a microphone placed outside the ear canal. Based on the receiver signal and the microphone signal, a reliability signal of the microphone signal and a feedback-path signal are computed. A spectral representation signal of the feedback-path signal is computed, and a real-ear response signal is computed using a mathematical combination of the spectral-representation signal and the reliability signal. The computed real-ear response signal is used to modify an operational characteristic of the hearing device, or to make a recommendation for modification of an operational characteristic or a physical characteristic of the hearing device.

Eardrum acoustic pressure estimation using feedback canceller

A method for guiding deep breathing may include receiving a request from a user to initiate a deep breathing exercise on a user-controlled device. The method may include monitoring deep breathing using one or more sensors on an ear-worn device in response to initiating the deep breathing exercise. Examples of sensors include at least one of a motion detector, a microphone, a heart rate sensor, and an electrophysiological sensor. The method may further include initiating an end to the deep breathing exercise. The method may be used with various hearing systems including an ear-worn device and optionally a user-controllable device, such as a smartphone.

Ear-worn devices with deep breathing assistance

A system for measuring tinnitus of a patient using a Bayesian minimum-entropy psychometric procedure for which a probabilistic model of the patient's behavior is combined with an optimal statistical-inference method to generate a test sound to be presented to the patient. The test sound includes a sequence of sound components selected and arranged to facilitate, expedite, and improve the reliability of tinnitus measurements.

Method and apparatus for characterizing tinnitus using Bayesian minimum-entropy psychometric procedure

A system for psychoacoustic evaluation of tinnitus synthesizes a test sound that is customized for a patient using the patient's audiogram, a model of the tinnitus related to the patient's audiogram, a psychoacoustic loudness model, and various test-sound parameters. In various embodiments, the system automatically adjusts the intensity and spectral level of the test sound such that the intensity of the test sound as perceived by the patient remains approximately constant across various frequencies and/or sound types used in the psychoacoustic evaluation of tinnitus.

Method and apparatus for tinnitus evaluation with test sound automatically adjusted for loudness

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for automated assessment and adjustment of tinnitus-masker impact on speech intelligibility during use of the tinnitus-masker. In various embodiments, a method of fitting a tinnitus-masker device for a patient is provided. The method includes using a speech intelligibility model to predict impact of therapy provided by the tinnitus-maker device on speech understanding of the patient. A parameter of the tinnitus-masker device is automatically adjusted during use to reduce the impact of the therapy provided by the tinnitus-maker device on speech understanding of the patient, according to various embodiments.

Automated assessment and adjustment of tinnitus-masker impact on speech intelligibility during use

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for automated assessment and adjustment of tinnitus-masker impact on speech intelligibility during fitting. In various embodiments, a method of fitting a tinnitus-masker device for a patient is provided. The method includes using a speech intelligibility model to predict impact of therapy provided by the tinnitus-maker device on speech understanding of the patient. A parameter of the tinnitus-masker device is automatically adjusted during fitting to reduce the impact of the therapy provided by the tinnitus-maker device on speech understanding of the patient, according to various embodiments.

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Saint Genis Laval, France

Christophe Daniel Micheyl