Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Joyce Rosenthal

Ivo Merks

Christopher Larry Howes

Henning Schepker

Christophe Daniel Micheyl

Jumana Harianawala

Dan Edgar

Jeff Patrick Kryzer

Tao Zhang

John Stolte

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

In one example, a method includes determining, by one or more processors of a hearing aid programmer, values for one or more properties of a first hearing aid; obtaining, by the one or more processors, based on feedback cancelation configurations of a plurality of other hearing aids having the same values for the one or more properties as the first hearing aid, a predicted initial feedback cancelation configuration for the first hearing aid; and programming, by the one or more processors, the first hearing aid based on the predicted initial feedback cancelation configuration.

Configuration of feedback cancelation for hearing aids

According to a method embodiment for performing a real ear measurement (REM), a stimulus signal is transformed into a frequency domain stimulus signal with a plurality of frequency ranges. The frequency domain stimulus signal is amplified with a desired gain for each of the plurality of frequency ranges to provide an amplified stimulus signal. The amplified stimulus signal is transformed into the acoustic signal in the ear canal, which is detected to provide a detected acoustic signal, and the detected acoustic signal is transformed into a frequency domain detected signal with the plurality of frequency ranges. A sound level for the plurality of frequency ranges is measured. The desired gain for the frequency ranges is automatically adjusted based on the measured sound levels and the desired sound pressure levels for the plurality of frequency ranges. The method can be performed within a hearing assistance apparatus.

System for automatic fitting using real ear measurement

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for vent detection in a hearing assistance device with a real ear measurement (REM) system. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for estimating vent out effect for a hearing assistance device. A REM is performed to obtain a measured response for a hearing assistance device worn by a user. A first simulation of a real ear response is performed using an occluded hearing assistance device model. The REM is compared to the first simulation in a selected frequency range to determine a vent effect and a second simulation of the real ear response is performed using the determined vent effect. The REM is compared to the second simulation to derive gains that compensate for the shape and volume of the user's ear canal.

Vent detection in a hearing assistance device with a real ear measurement system

Provided herein is a system for adjusting parameters for binaural hearing assistance devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) control is provided for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the control is indicative of status of at least one parameter for at least one device. When a pointer, controlled by a mouse or other selecting device, is placed over the control, the control expands. In various applications the control expands to display options for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one device. In some applications, the control provides options to adjust at least one parameter of a left and a right device individually.

Expanding binaural hearing assistance device control

An adjusting tool having two electrical contacts provides a means for measuring an electrical signal that is used for adjusting electrical parameters of an object as the object is being physically adjusted by the adjusting tool. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool is configured such that the two electrical contacts make electrical contact with electrical contacts of a potentiometer of a hearing aid to receive an adjustment signal that is also applied to circuits in the hearing aid. The two electrical contacts of the adjusting tool maintain electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the potentiometer as the adjusting tool physically adjusts the potentiometer. In an embodiment, the adjusting tool includes a display to provide a visual representation of the adjustment signal as the potentiometer is adjusted.

Adjusting and display tool and potentiometer

A hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a parameter-select device to select one of several parameters to be adjusted and a parameter-adjust device to adjust the parameter-selected by the parameter-select device. Another hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an entire set of pre-programmed parameters to be selected for a given position of the parameter-select device.

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Golden Valley, MN, United States of America

Joyce Rosenthal