Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/12—Audiometering
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
  • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2225/43—Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility

Definitions

• This invention relates, in general, to hearing aids and, in particular, to systems and methods that aid hearing to provide signal processing and feature sets to enhance speech and sound intelligibility.
• Hearing loss can affect anyone at any age, although elderly adults more frequently experience hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss is associated with lower quality of life and can have far-reaching implications for the individual experiencing hearing loss as well as those close to the individual. As a result, there is a continuing need for improved hearing aids and methods for use of the same that enable patients to better hear conversations and the like.
• a programming interface is configured to communicate with a device.
• the system screens, via a speaker and a user interface associated with the device, a left ear - and separately, a right ear - of a patient.
• the system determines a left ear hearing range and a right ear hearing range.
• the hearing ranges are modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient.
• the subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient may be a completed assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound, for example.
• the subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient may be a completed assessment of a degree of pleasantness caused to the patient by an enablement of wanted sound.
• the subjective assessment may be the best sound quality to the patient.
• a programming interface is configured to communicate with a device.
• the system screens, via a speaker and a user interface associated with the device, a left ear - and separately, a right ear - of a patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard. A frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz is then tested.
• the system determines a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range.
• the preferred hearing ranges are modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient.
• Figure 1A is a front perspective schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a hearing aid being programmed with one embodiment of a system for aiding hearing, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure IB is a top plan view depicting the hearing aid of figure 1A being utilized according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the hearing aid depicted in figure 1A;
• Figure 3A is a front-left perspective view of another embodiment of the hearing aid depicted in figure 1A;
• Figure 3B is a front-right perspective view of the embodiment of the hearing aid depicted in figure 3 A;
• Figure 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a hearing aid being programmed with one embodiment of a system for aiding hearing, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 5 is a flow chart depicting one method for aiding hearing, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 6 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method for calibrating and setting the hearing aid for a preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 7 is a flow chart depicting another embodiment of a method for calibrating and setting the hearing aid for a preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 8 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of modifying a preferred hearing ranges with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient;
• Figure 9 is a front perspective schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a system for aiding hearing, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 10 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of the hearing aid depicted in figure 9;
• Figure 11 is a functional block diagram of a smart device, which forms a portion of the system for aiding hearing depicted in figure 9;
• Figure 12 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of a server, which forms a portion of the system for aiding hearing depicted in figure 8;
• Figure 13 is a front perspective schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a system for aiding hearing, according to the teachings presented herein;
• Figure 14 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of hearing aid test equipment depicted in figure 12;
• Figure 15 is a conceptual module diagram depicting a software architecture of a testing equipment application of some embodiments.
• Figure 16 is a graph of one embodiment of a completion of an assessment of a patient.
• FIG 1A and figure IB therein is depicted one embodiment of a hearing aid, which is schematically illustrated and designated 10.
• the hearing aid 10 is programmed according to a system for aiding hearing.
• a user U who may be considered a patient requiring a hearing aid, is wearing the hearing aid 10 and sitting at a table T at a restaurant or cafe, for example, and engaged in a conversation with an individual Ii and an individual I2.
• the user U is speaking sound Si
• the individual Ii is speaking sound S2
• the individual I2 is speaking sound S3.
• a bystander Bi is engaged in a conversation with a bystander B2.
• the bystander Bi is speaking sound S4 and the bystander B2 is speaking sound S5.
• An ambulance A is driving by the table T and emitting sound Se.
• the sounds Si, S2, and S3 may be described as the immediate background sounds.
• the sounds S4, S5, and Se may be described as the background sounds.
• the sound Se may be described as the dominant sound as it is the loudest sound at table T.
• the hearing aid 10 is programmed with a qualified sound range for each ear in a two-ear embodiment and for one ear in a one- ear embodiment.
• the qualified sound range may be a range of sound corresponding to a preferred hearing range for each ear of the user modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the user.
• the preferred hearing range may be a range of sound corresponding to the highest hearing capacity of an ear of the user U between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the preferred hearing range for each ear may be multiple ranges of sound corresponding to the highest hearing capacity ranges of an ear of the user U between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the various sounds Si through Se received may be transformed and divided into the multiple ranges of sound.
• the preferred hearing range for each ear may be an about 300Hz frequency to an about 500Hz frequency range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of a patient.
• the subjective assessment according to the user may include a completed assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the user by an impairment of wanted sound.
• the subjective assessment according to the user may also include a completed assessment of a degree of pleasantness caused to the patient by an enablement of wanted sound. That is, the subjective assessment according to the user may include a completed assessment to determine best sound quality to the user. Sound received at the hearing aid 10 is converted to the qualified sound range prior to output, which the user U hears.
• the hearing aid 10 may create a pairing with a proximate smart device 12, such as a smart phone (depicted), smart watch, or tablet computer.
• the proximate smart device 12 includes a display 14 having an interface 16 having controls, such as an ON/OFF switch or volume controls 18 and mode of operation controls 20.
• controls such as an ON/OFF switch or volume controls 18 and mode of operation controls 20.
• a user may send a control signal wirelessly from the proximate smart device 12 to the hearing aid 10 to control a function, like volume controls 18.
• the hearing aid 10 and the proximate smart device 12 may leverage the wireless communication link therebetween and use processing distributed between the hearing aid 10 and the proximate smart device 12 to process the signals and perform other analysis.
• the hearing aid 10 is programmed according to the system for aiding hearing and the hearing aid 10 includes a left body 32 and a right body 34 connected to a band member 36 that is configured to partially circumscribe the user U. Each of the left body 32 and the right body 34 cover an external ear of the user U and are sized to engage therewith.
• microphones 38, 40, 42 which gather sound directionally and convert the gathered sound into an electrical signal, are located on the left body 32. With respect to gathering sound, the microphone 38 may be positioned to gather forward sound, the microphone 40 may be positioned to gather lateral sound, and the microphone 42 may be positioned to gather rear sound. Microphones may be similarly positioned on the right body 34.
• Various internal compartments 44 provide space for housing electronics, which will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow.
• Various controls 46 provide a patient interface with the hearing aid 10.
• each of the left body 32 and the right body 34 cover an external ear of the user U and being sized to engage therewith confers certain benefits.
• Sound waves enter through the outer ear and reach the middle ear to vibrate the eardrum.
• the eardrum then vibrates the oscilles, which are small bones in the middle ear.
• the sound vibrations travel through the oscilles to the inner ear.
• hair cells When the sound vibrations reach the cochlea, they push against specialized cells known as hair cells.
• the hair cells turn the vibrations into electrical nerve impulses.
• the auditory nerve connects the cochlea to the auditory centers of the brain. When these electrical nerve impulses reach the brain, they are experienced as sound.
• the outer ear serves a variety of functions.
• the various air-filled cavities composing the outer ear have a natural or resonant frequency to which they respond best. This is true of all air-filled cavities.
• the resonance of each of these cavities is such that each structure increases the sound pressure at its resonant frequency by approximately 10 to 12 dB.
• Headsets are used in hearing testing in medical and associated facilities for a reason: tests have shown that completely closing the ear canal in order to prevent any form of outside noise plays direct role in acoustic matching.
• the more severe hearing problem the closer the hearing aid speaker must be to the ear drum.
• the closer to the speaker is to the ear drum the more the device plugs the canal and negatively impacts the ear’s pressure system. That is, the various chambers of the ear have a defined operational pressure determined, in part, by the ear’s structure. By plugging the ear canal, the pressure system in the ear is distorted and the operational pressure of the ear is negatively impacted.
• “plug size” hearing aids having limitations with respect to distorting the defined operational pressure within the ear.
• the hearing aid 10 of figure 2 - and other figures - creates a closed chamber around the ear increasing the pressure within the chamber.
• the hearing aid 10 is programmed according to a system for aiding hearing and the hearing aid 10 includes a left body 52 having an ear hook 54 extending from the left body 52 to an ear mold 56.
• the left body 52 and the ear mold 56 may each at least partially conform to the contours of the external ear and sized to engage therewith.
• the left body 52 may be sized to engage with the contours of the ear in a behind-the-ear-fit.
• the ear mold 56 may be sized to be fitted for the physical shape of a patient’s ear.
• the ear hook 54 may include a flexible tubular material that propagates sound from the left body 52 to the ear mold 56.
• Microphones 58 which gather sound and convert the gathered sound into an electrical signal, are located on the left body 52.
• An opening 60 within the ear mold 56 permits sound traveling through the ear hook 54 to exit into the patient’s ear.
• An internal compartment 62 provides space for housing electronics, which will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow.
• Various controls 64 provide a patient interface with the hearing aid 10 on the left body 52 of the hearing aid 10.
• the hearing aid 10 includes a right body 72 having an ear hook 74 extending from the right body 72 to an ear mold 76.
• the right body 72 and the ear mold 76 may each at least partially conform to the contours of the external ear and sized to engage therewith.
• the right body 72 may be sized to engage with the contours of the ear in a behind-the-ear-fit.
• the ear mold 76 may be sized to be fitted for the physical shape of a patient’s ear.
• the ear hook 74 may include a flexible tubular material that propagates sound from the right body 72 to the ear mold 76.
• Microphones 78 which gather sound and convert the gathered sound into an electrical signal, are located on the right body 72.
• An opening 80 within the ear mold 76 permits sound traveling through the ear hook 74 to exit into the patient’s ear.
• An internal compartment 82 provides space for housing electronics, which will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow.
• Various controls 84 provide a patient interface with the hearing aid 10 on the right body 72 of the hearing aid 10. It should be appreciated that the various controls 64, 84 and other components of the left and right bodies 52, 72 may be at least partially integrated and consolidated. Further, it should be appreciated that the hearing aid 10 may have one or more microphones on each of the left and right bodies 52, 72 to improve directional hearing in certain implementations and provide, in some implementations, 360-degree directional sound input.
• the left and right bodies 52, 72 are connected at the respective ear hooks 54, 74 by a band member 90 which is configured to partially circumscribe a head or a neck of the patient.
• a compartment 92 within the band member 90 may provide space for electronics and the like.
• the hearing aid 10 may include left and right earpiece covers 94, 96 respectively positioned exteriorly to the left and right bodies 52, 72.
• Each of the left and right earpiece covers 94, 96 isolate noise to block out interfering outside noises.
• the microphones 58 in the left body 52 and the microphones 78 in the right body 72 may cooperate to provide directional hearing.
• the hearing aid 10 includes a body 112 having an ear hook 114 extending from the body 112 to an ear mold 116.
• the body 112 and the ear mold 116 may each at least partially conform to the contours of the external ear and sized to engage therewith.
• the body 112 may be sized to engage with the contours of the ear in a behind-the-ear-fit.
• the ear mold 116 may be sized to be fitted for the physical shape of a patient’s ear.
• the ear hook 114 may include a flexible tubular material that propagates sound from the body 112 to the ear mold 116.
• a microphone 118 which gathers sound and converts the gathered sound into an electrical signal, is located on the body 112.
• An opening 120 within the ear mold 116 permits sound traveling through the ear hook 114 to exit into the patient’s ear.
• An internal compartment 122 provides space for housing electronics, which will be discussed in further detail hereinbelow.
• Various controls 124 provide a patient interface with the hearing aid 10 on the body 112 of the hearing aid 10.
• a method for aiding hearing starts at block 140, when a patient is going to undergo screening to determine the preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges for programming a hearing aid, such as the hearing aid 10.
• a big profile is created at a first hearing range.
• an ear of a patient may be screened at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz, with detected frequencies noted.
• another big profile is created, but at a second hearing range.
• an ear of the patient may be screened at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz.
• a detailed profile is created by re-ranged testing where hearing was noted to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard.
• a best sound quality profile is created whereby an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound through a test of different sounds is completed. This provides the preferred hearing range modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient and the methodology ends at block 150.
• FIG 6 one embodiment of a method for calibrating and setting the hearing aid 10 for a preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges utilizing the methodology presented herein is shown.
• the method starts at block 160, when a patient is going to undergo testing to determine the preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges for use of the hearing aid 10. This method will provide the necessary calibration and settings for the hearing aid 10.
• the methodology screens a large number of hearing aid screening points and involve a methodology that is completely automated and overseen by an assistant.
• an ear of the patient is selected.
• a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range are determined corresponding to the left and right bodies 52, 72 of the hearing aid 10.
• Each of the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range may be a range of sounds corresponding to the highest hearing capacity of the respective ear of the patient. In one implementation, this range of sound is between 50Hz and 10,000Hz. Further, the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range may be mutually exclusive, at least partially overlap, or be identical. Further still, the left ear preferred hearing range or the right ear preferred hearing range may include multiple narrow hearing range bands. It should be appreciated that the profile of the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range will vary from patient to patient, i.e., user to user.
• the methodology proceeds to decision block 164, where a round of testing is selected.
• the hearing aid testing requires two rounds of testing.
• the ear under test is tested between 50Hz and 5,000Hz at a variable increment, such as, for example, a 50Hz increment, initially with subsequent testing at a more discrete variable increment, such as, a 5Hz to 20Hz increment, for example, if hearing is detected.
• the ear under test is tested between 5,000Hz and 10,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 200Hz increment, for example, initially with subsequent testing at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment, for example, if hearing is detected to better identify the preferred hearing range, whether the left ear preferred hearing range or the right ear preferred hearing range.
• a variable increment such as a 200Hz increment
• the methodology advances to block 166 where the frequency to be tested is selected.
• the testing begins at 50Hz and progressively is increased at a variable increment to 5,000Hz with subsequent iterations.
• the decibel level is selected. The decibel level begins at lOdB and increases to 120dB with subsequent iterations.
• the test sound at the selected frequency and decibel level is provided to the selected ear of the patient.
• the methodology advances to decision block 174, where if there are additional decibels to test then the methodology returns to block 168, where, iteratively, the decibel level is increased and the testing continues at block 170, as previously discussed. On the other hand, if the decibel levels are exhausted and there are no more decibel levels to test, then the methodology advances to decision block 176.
• decision block 174 if the decibel level is at maximum strength, at 120dBs, for example, then the decibel levels to test would be exhausted. It should be appreciated that in one implementation, the escalation of the decibel levels may be continuous during the testing or seem continuous to the patient during the testing.
• decision block 176 if the test sound at the designated frequency and decibel level is heard, then the methodology advances to decision block 176.
• decision block 176 if there are additional frequencies to test, then the methodology returns to block 166, where another frequency is selected. If all frequencies to be tested, then the methodology returns to block 164, where the high frequency round of testing is selected as the testing for the ear under test of the patient for the low frequency is completed.
• the frequencies around the test sound are tested at a 5 Hz to a 20Hz increment in the methodology to identify the exact frequency range that is heard.
• the methodology continues in this manner through block 166, block 168, block 170, decision block 172, decision block 174, and decision block 176 until, in the illustrated embodiment, all frequencies between 50Hz and 5,000Hz are tested at a variable increment, such as a 50Hz increment, at a decibel range of, for example, from lOdB to 120dB, with frequencies detected being ranged tested and retested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment, for example.
• the methodology tests, in one embodiment, a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 200Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdB to 120dB, with detected frequencies to be re-range tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment, to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard.
• This methodology is executed by block 186, block 188, block 190, decision block 192, decision block 194, and decision block 196, which execute a methodology similar to the block 166, the block 168, the block 170, the decision block 172, the decision block 174, and the decision block 176 discussed hereinabove.
• a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range will be documented that indicate the range or ranges of frequencies for each ear at particular decibel levels where the patient can hear.
• the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range are utilized to calibrate the hearing aid 10.
• a frequency generator 220 and recorder 222 interact with the methodology to provide a target frequency range 224 and one or more of the target frequency ranges 224 may be combined to arrive at the preferred hearing range.
• the frequency generator 220 and the recorder 222 may be embodied on any combination of smart devices, servers, and hearing aid test equipment.
• an initial frequency of 50Hz at 10 dB is screened.
• the patient’s ability to hear the initial frequency is recorded before the process advances to the next frequency of a variable increment, which is 50Hz at 20 dB, at block 234 and the patient’s ability to hear is recorded at decision block 236.
• the process continues for the next incremental frequency, e.g., 965 Hz at 20 dB.
• the methodology advances for 1,180 Hz at 20 dB before the process advances to block 246 and decision block 248 for 10,000 Hz at 20dB.
• the testing methodology continues for the frequencies under test with the results being recorded.
• a memory 252 provides various test sounds.
• a processor 254 utilizes a sound quality algorithm to determine the subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient.
• the subjective assessment according to the patient may include a completed assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound.
• the subjective assessment according to the patient may also include a completed assessment of a degree of pleasantness caused to the patient by an enablement of wanted sound. That is, the subjective assessment according to the patient may include a completed assessment to determine best sound quality to the user.
• the target frequency ranges which form the left and right ear preferred hearing ranges, are provided to a memory 256, which stores the results.
• a sample test is initiated with sample sounds of a man’s voice being provided from block 258.
• the results are recorded. The results are recorded likewise if the results are unfavorable.
• a second sample test of a man’s voice is provided.
• the sound is assessed.
• this testing assessment continues for various samples of the man’s voice provided by block 258 as well as other testing samples, including a women’s voice provided by block 260 in the memory 252, street vehicles provided at block 262, and music provided at block 264. In all instances, the results are recorded in memory 256. In this way, the methodology completes an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds, including human voices, animal sounds, vehicular sounds, and music, for example. Thereafter, the methodology, modifies the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range, following separate ear testing, with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient.
• the methodology may modify a left ear hearing range that is not the left ear preferred hearing range.
• the methodology may modify a right ear hearing range that is not the right ear preferred range.
• the methodology modifies the left ear hearing range and the right ear hearing range, following separate ear testing, with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient.
• FIG 9 one embodiment of a system 300 for aiding hearing is shown.
• the user U who may be considered a patient requiring a hearing aid, is wearing the hearing aid 10 and sitting at a table T.
• the hearing aid 10 has a pairing with the proximate smart device 12 such the hearing aid 10 and the proximate smart device 12 may determine the user’s preferred hearing range for each ear and subsequently program the hearing aid 10 with the preferred hearing ranges.
• the proximate smart device 12 which may be a smart phone, a smart watch, or a tablet computer, for example, is executing a hearing screening program.
• the display 14 serves as an interface for the user U.
• various indicators such as indicators 302, 304, 306 show that the testing of the left ear is in progress at 965 Hz at 20 db.
• the user U is asked if the sound was heard at the indicator 306 and the user U may appropriately respond at soft button 308 or soft button 310.
• the system 300 screens, via a speaker and a user interface associated with the proximate smart device 12, a left ear - and separately, a right ear - of the user U at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard. A frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz is then tested.
• the system determines a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range prior to determining the best sound quality, which is the hearing ranges, e.g., the preferred hearing ranges, modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient. That is, the left ear hearing range and the right ear hearing range, following separate ear testing, are applied with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient
• the proximate smart device 12 may be in communication with a server 320 having a housing 322.
• the smart device may utilize distributed processing between the proximate smart device 12 and the server 320 to at least one of screen the left ear, screen the right ear, determine the left ear preferred hearing range, and determine the right ear preferred hearing range.
• the processing to screen the left ear, screen the right ear, determine the left ear preferred hearing range, and determine the right ear preferred hearing range may be located on a smart device, a server, hearing testing equipment, or any combination thereof.
• an illustrative embodiment of the internal components of the hearing aid 10 is depicted.
• the hearing aid 10 depicted in the embodiment of figure 2 and figures 3A, 3B is presented. It should be appreciated, however, that the teachings of figure 5 equally apply to the embodiment of figure 4.
• an electronic signal processor 330 may be housed within the internal compartments 62, 82.
• the hearing aid 10 may include an electronic signal processor 330 for each ear or the electronic signal processor 330 for each ear may be at least partially integrated or fully integrated.
• the electronic signal processor 330 is housed.
• the electronic signal processor 330 may include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 332, a digital signal processor (DSP) 334, and a digital-to- analog converter (DAC) 336.
• ADC analog-to-digital converter
• DSP digital signal processor
• DAC digital-to- analog converter
• the electronic signal processor 330 including the digital signal processor embodiment, may have memory accessible to a processor.
• One or more microphone inputs 338 corresponding to one or more respective microphones, a speaker output 340, various controls, such as a programming connector 342 and hearing aid controls 344, an induction coil 346, a battery 348, and a transceiver 350 are also housed within the hearing aid 10.
• a signaling architecture communicatively interconnects the microphone inputs 338 to the electronic signal processor 330 and the electronic signal processor 330 to the speaker output 340.
• the various hearing aid controls 344, the induction coil 346, the battery 348, and the transceiver 350 are also communicatively interconnected to the electronic signal processor 330 by the signaling architecture.
• the speaker output 340 sends the sound output to a speaker or speakers to project sound and in particular, acoustic signals in the audio frequency band as processed by the hearing aid 10.
• the programming connector 342 may provide an interface to a computer or other device and, in particular, the programming connector 342 may be utilized to program and calibrate the hearing aid 10 with the system 300, according to the teachings presented herein.
• the hearing aid controls 344 may include an ON/OFF switch as well as volume controls, for example.
• the induction coil 346 may receive magnetic field signals in the audio frequency band from a telephone receiver or a transmitting induction loop, for example, to provide a telecoil functionality.
• the induction coil 346 may also be utilized to receive remote control signals encoded on a transmitted or radiated electromagnetic carrier, with a frequency above the audio band.
• Various programming signals from a transmitter may also be received via the induction coil 346 or via the transceiver 350, as will be discussed.
• the battery 348 provides power to the hearing aid 10 and may be rechargeable or accessed through a battery compartment door (not shown), for example.
• the transceiver 350 may be internal, external, or a combination thereof to the housing.
• the transceiver 350 may be a transmitter/receiver, receiver, or an antenna, for example.
• Communication between various smart devices and the hearing aid 10 may be enabled by a variety of wireless methodologies employed by the transceiver 150, including 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth low energy, and Bluetooth, for example.
• the various controls and inputs and outputs presented above are exemplary and it should be appreciated that other types of controls may be incorporated in the hearing aid 10.
• the electronics and form of the hearing aid 10 may vary.
• the hearing aid 10 and associated electronics may include any type of headphone configuration, a behind-the-ear configuration, an in-the-ear configuration, or in-the-ear configuration, for example.
• electronic configurations with multiple microphones for directional hearing are within the teachings presented herein.
• the hearing aid has an over- the-ear configuration where the entire ear is covered, which not only provides the hearing aid functionality but hearing protection functionality as well.
• the electronic signal processor 330 may be programmed with a qualified sound range having a preferred hearing range which, in one embodiment, is the preferred hearing sound range corresponding to highest hearing capacity of a patient.
• the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range are each a range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of an ear of a patient between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the preferred hearing sound range for each of the left ear and the right ear may be an about 300Hz frequency to an about 500Hz frequency range of sound. With this approach, the hearing capacity of the patient is enhanced.
• Existing audiogram hearing aid industry testing equipment measures hearing capacity at defined frequencies, such as 60Hz; 125Hz; 250Hz; 500Hz; 1,000Hz; 2,000Hz; 4,000Hz; 8,000Hz and existing hearing aids work on a ratio-based frequency scheme.
• the present teachings however measure hearing capacity at a small step, which is a variable increment, such as 5Hz, 10Hz, or 20Hz. Thereafter, one or a few, such as three, frequency ranges are defined to serve as the preferred hearing range or preferred hearing ranges. As discussed herein, in some embodiments of the present approach, a two-step process is utilized.
• hearing is tested in an ear between 50Hz and 5,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 50Hz increment, and between 5,000Hz and 10,0000Hz at 200Hz increments to identify potential hearing ranges.
• the testing may be switched to a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz, 10Hz, or 20Hz increment, to precisely identify the preferred hearing range, which may be modified with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• the various controls 344 may include an adjustment that widens the about frequency range of about 200Hz, for example, to a frequency range of 100Hz to 700Hz or even wider, for example.
• the preferred hearing sound range may be shifted by use of various controls 124.
• Directional microphone systems on each microphone position and processing may be included that provide a boost to sounds coming from the front of the patient and reduce sounds from other directions. Such a directional microphone system and processing may improve speech understanding in situations with excessive background noise. Digital noise reduction, impulse noise reduction, and wind noise reduction may also be incorporated.
• system compatibility features such as FM compatibility and Bluetooth compatibility, may be included in the hearing aid 10.
• the ADC 332 outputs a digital total sound (ST) signal that undergoes the frequency spectrum analysis.
• ST digital total sound
• the base frequency (FB) and harmonics (Hi, H2, ..., HN) components are separated.
• CFB converted based frequency
• the harmonics processing within the electronic signal processor 330 calculates a converted actual frequency (CFA) and a differential converted harmonics (DCHN) to create a converted total sound (CST), which is the output of the harmonics processing by the electronic signal processor 330.
• total sound may be defined as follows:
• FB range between FBL and FBH with FBL being the lowest frequency value in base frequency and FBH being the highest frequency Value in Base Frequency;
• HN harmonics of FB with HN being a mathematical multiplication of FB;
• HAI 1 st harmonic of FA
• HAN N th harmonic of FA with HAN being the mathematical multiplication of F A .
• the total sound (ST) may be at any frequency range; furthermore the two ears true hearing range may be entirely different. Therefore, the hearing aid 10 presented herein may transfer the base frequency range (FB) along with several of the harmonics (HN) into the actual hearing range (AHR) by converting the base frequency range (FB) and several chosen harmonics (HN) into the actual hearing range (AHR) as one coherent converted total sound (CST) by using the following algorithm defined by following equations:
• Equation (3) wherein for Equation (1), Equation (2), and Equation (3):
• DCH differential converted harmonics
• a high-pass filter may cut all differential converted harmonics (DCH) above a predetermined frequency.
• DCH differential converted harmonics
• the frequency of 5,000Hz may be used as a benchmark.
• CST converted total sound
• the harmonics processing at the DSP 334 may provide the conversion for each participating frequency in total sound (ST) and distributing all participating converted actual frequencies (CFA) and differential converted harmonics (DCHN) in the converted total sound (CST) in the same ratio as participated in the original total sound (ST). In some implementations, should more than seventy-five percent (75%) of all the differential converted harmonics (DCHN) be out of the high-pass filter range, the harmonics processing may use an adequate multiplier (between 0.1-0.9) and add the created new differential converted harmonics (DCHN) to converted total sound (CST).
• the processor may process instructions for execution within the electronic signal processor 330 as a computing device, including instructions stored in the memory.
• the memory stores information within the computing device.
• the memory is a volatile memory unit or units.
• the memory is a nonvolatile memory unit or units.
• the memory is accessible to the processor and includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to execute a series of operations.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to receive an input analog signal from the microphone inputs 338 and convert the input analog signal to a digital signal.
• the processor-executable instructions then cause the processor to transform through compression, for example, the digital signal into a processed digital signal having the preferred hearing range.
• the transformation may be a frequency transformation where the input frequency is frequency transformed into the preferred hearing range.
• the processor is then caused by the processor-executable instructions to convert the processed digital signal to an output analog signal and drive the output analog signal to the speaker output 340.
• the proximate smart device 12 may be a wireless communication device of the type including various fixed, mobile, and/or portable devices. To expand rather than limit the discussion of the proximate smart device 12, such devices may include, but are not limited to, cellular or mobile smart phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, and so forth.
• the proximate smart device 12 may include a processor 370, memory 372, storage 374, a transceiver 376, and a cellular antenna 378 interconnected by a busing architecture 380 that also supports the display 14, I/O panel 382, and a camera 384. It should be appreciated that although a particular architecture is explained, other designs and layouts are within the teachings presented herein.
• the proximate smart device 12 includes the memory 372 accessible to the processor 370 and the memory 372 includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor 370 to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, a left ear of a patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 50Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdb to 120db, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment.
• processor-executable instructions cause the processor 370 to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, the left ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 200Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdB to 120dB, with detected frequencies to be re-range tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment.
• the processor-executable instructions may also determine a left ear preferred hearing range, which is a range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of the left ear of the patient between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the processor-executable instructions then cause the processor 370 to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, a right ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 50Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdb to 120db, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5 Hz to 20Hz increment.
• the processor 370 is caused to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, the right ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 200Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdB to 120dB, with detected frequencies to be re-range tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment. Then a left ear preferred hearing range is determined, which is a range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of the left ear of the patient between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the processor executable instructions may cause the processor 370 to, when executed, utilize distributed processing between the proximate smart device 12 and a server to at least one of screen the left ear, screen the right ear, determine the left ear preferred hearing range, and determine the right ear preferred hearing range.
• the processor-executable instructions may then determine best quality sound for the left ear hearing range and the right ear hearing range, each of which may or may not be preferred hearing ranges.
• the instructions cause the processor, for the left ear hearing range, to complete an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to create the qualified sound range by modifying the left ear hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to create the qualified sound range by completing an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds and then modify the right ear preferred hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality. This creates the qualified sound range.
• the teachings presented herein permit the proximate smart device 12 such as a smart phone to form a pairing with the hearing aid 10 and operate the hearing aid 10.
• the proximate smart device 12 includes the memory 372 accessible to the processor 370 and the memory 372 includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor 370 to provide an interface for an operator that includes an interactive application for viewing the status of the hearing aid 10.
• the processor 370 is caused to present a menu for controlling the hearing aid 10.
• the processor 370 is then caused to receive an interactive instruction from the user and forward a control signal via the transceiver 376, for example, to implement the instruction at the hearing aid 10.
• the processor 370 may also be caused to generate various reports about the operation of the hearing aid 10.
• the processor 370 may also be caused to translate or access a translation service for the audio.
• one embodiment of the server 120 as a computing device includes, within the housing 322, a processor 400, memory 402, and storage 404 interconnected with various buses 412 in a common or distributed, for example, mounting architecture that also supports inputs 406, outputs 408, and network interface 410.
• multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory.
• multiple computing devices may be provided and operations distributed therebetween.
• the processor 400 may process instructions for execution within the server 320, including instructions stored in the memory 402 or in storage 404.
• the memory 402 stores information within the computing device. In one implementation, the memory 402 is a volatile memory unit or units.
• the memory 402 is a non-volatile memory unit or units.
• Storage 404 includes capacity that is capable of providing mass storage for the server 320, including crane service database storage capacity.
• Various inputs 406 and outputs 408 provide connections to and from the server 320, wherein the inputs 406 are the signals or data received by the server 320, and the outputs 408 are the signals or data sent from the server 320.
• the network interface 410 provides the necessary device controller to connect the server 320 to one or more networks.
• the memory 402 is accessible to the processor 400 and includes processorexecutable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor 400 to execute a series of operations.
• the processor 400 may be caused to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, a left ear of a patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz at 50Hz increments at a decibel range of lOdb to 120db, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested at a 5Hz to 20Hz increment. Also, the processor-executable instructions cause the processor 400 to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, the left ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz in 200Hz increments at a decibel range of lOdB to 120dB, with detected frequencies to be re-range tested at a 5 Hz to 20Hz increment.
• the processor-executable instructions may also determine a left ear preferred hearing range, which is a range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of the left ear of the patient between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the processor-executable instructions then cause the processor 400 to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, a right ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 50Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdb to 120db, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5 Hz to 20Hz increment.
• the processor 400 is caused to screen, via the speaker and the user interface, the right ear of the patient at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz at a variable increment, such as a 200Hz increment, at a decibel range of lOdB to 120dB, with detected frequencies to be re-range tested at a more discrete increment, such as a 5Hz to 20Hz increment.
• a left ear preferred hearing range is determined, which is a range of sound corresponding to highest hearing capacity of the left ear of the patient between 50Hz and 10,000Hz.
• the processor executable instructions may cause the processor 400 to, when executed, utilize distributed processing between the server 320 and either the proximate smart device 12 or hearing testing equipment to at least one of screen the left ear, screen the right ear, determine the left ear preferred hearing range, and determine the right ear preferred hearing range.
• the processor-executable instructions may then determine best quality sound for the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range.
• these processor-executable instructions operate on left and right hearing ranges as well as left and right preferred hearing ranges.
• the instructions cause the processor, for the left ear preferred hearing range, to complete an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to modify the left ear preferred hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to complete an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds and then modify the right ear preferred hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• a user V who may be considered a patient requiring a hearing aid, is utilizing hearing testing device 434 with a testing/programming unit 432 and a headset 436 having headphones 437 with a transceiver 438 for communicating with the hearing testing device 434.
• a push button 442 is coupled with cabling 440 to the headset 436 to provide an interface for the user V to indicate when a particular sound, i.e., frequency and decibel is heard.
• the system 430 screens, via a speaker in the headset 436 and a user interface with the push button 442, a left ear - and separately, a right ear - of the user V at an incrementally selected frequency between a frequency range of 50Hz to 5,000Hz, with detected frequencies being re-ranged tested to better identify the frequencies and decibel levels heard. A frequency range of 5,000Hz to 10,000Hz is then tested. The system then determines a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range.
• the hearing testing device 434 depicted as a computing device is shown.
• a processor 450, memory 452, storage 454, and a display 456 are interconnected by a busing architecture 458 within a mounting architecture.
• the processor 450 may process instructions for execution within the computing device, including instructions stored in the memory 452 or in storage 454.
• the memory 452 stores information within the computing device.
• the memory 452 is a volatile memory unit or units.
• the memory 452 is a non-volatile memory unit or units.
• the storage 454 provides capacity that is capable of providing mass storage for the hearing testing device 434.
• the hearing testing device 432 may include the display 456, a user interface 460, a test frequency output 462, a headset output 464, a timer output 466, a handset input 468, a frequency range output 470, and a microphone input 472.
• the display 456 is an output device for visual information, including real-time or post-test screening results.
• the user interface 460 may provide a keyboard or push button for the operator of the hearing testing device 432 to provide input, including such functions as starting the screening, stopping the screening, and repeating a previously completed step.
• the test frequency output 462 may display the range to be examined, such as a frequency between 100Hz and 5,000Hz.
• the headset output 464 may output the signal under test to the patient.
• the timer output 466 may include an indication of the length of time the hearing testing device 432 will stay on a given frequency. For example, the hearing testing device 432 may stay 30 seconds on a particular frequency.
• the handset input 468 may be secured to a handset that provides “pause” and “okay” functionality for the patient during the testing.
• the frequency range output 462 may indicate the test frequency range per step, such as 50Hz or other increment, for example.
• the microphone input 472 receives audio input from the operator relative to screening instructions intended for the patient, for example.
• the memory 452 and the storage 454 are accessible to the processor 450 and include processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor 450 to execute a series of operations.
• the processorexecutable instructions may cause the processor 450 to permit the hearing testing device 432 to be conducted by one ear at a time.
• the processor-executable instructions may also cause the processor 450 to permit the patient to pause the process in response to a signal received at the handset input 468.
• the processor 450 may be caused to start the hearing testing device 432 at 50Hz by giving a 50Hz signal for a predetermined length of time, such as 20 seconds to 30 seconds starting at lOdb and stopping at 120db.
• the processor-executable instructions may cause the processor 450 to receive a detection signal from the handset input 468 during screening. Then, the processor-executable instructions cause the hearing testing device 432 to test to the next frequency at as step, such as 100Hz, for example, and continue the screening process.
• the processor 450 may be caused to start the hearing test device 434 at 5,200Hz by giving a 5,200Hz signal for a predetermined length of time, such as 20 seconds to 30 seconds starting at lOdb and stopping at 120db.
• the processor-executable instructions may cause the processor 450 to receive a detection signal from the handset input 468 during screening. Then, the processor-executable instructions cause the hearing test device 434 to test to the next frequency at as step, such as 5,400Hz, for example, and continue the screening process.
• the processor-executable instructions may cause the screening for the designated ear to be complete at 5,400Hz at which time the entire process may start over for another ear or another patient. The system then determines a left ear preferred hearing range and a right ear preferred hearing range.
• the processor-executable instructions may then determine best quality sound for the left ear preferred hearing range and the right ear preferred hearing range.
• the instructions cause the processor, for the left ear preferred hearing range, to complete an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to modify the left ear preferred hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• the processor-executable instructions cause the processor to complete an assessment of a degree of annoyance caused to the patient by an impairment of wanted sound trough a test of different sounds and then modify the right ear preferred hearing range with a subjective assessment of sound quality according to the patient to provide best sound quality.
• testing equipment application 500 conceptually illustrates the software architecture of a testing equipment application 500 of some embodiments that may determine the preferred hearing ranges for patients.
• the testing equipment application 500 is a stand-alone application or is integrated into another application, while in other embodiments the application might be implemented within an operating system 530.
• the testing equipment application 500 is provided as part of a server-based solution or a cloud-based solution.
• the application is provided via a thin client. That is, the application runs on a server while a user interacts with the application via a separate machine remote from the server.
• the application is provided via a thick client. That is, the application is distributed from the server to the client machine and runs on the client machine.
• the testing equipment application 500 includes a user interface (UI) interaction and generation module 502, management (user) interface tools 504, test procedure modules 506, frequency generator modules 508, decibels modules 510, notification/alert modules 512, report modules 514, database module 516, an operator module 518, and a health care professional module 520.
• the testing equipment application 500 has access to a testing equipment database 522, which in one embodiment, may include test procedure data 524, patient data 526, and presentation instructions 528.
• storages 524, 526, 528 are all stored in one physical storage. In other embodiments, the storages 524, 526, 528 are in separate physical storages, or one of the storages is in one physical storage while the other is in a different physical storage.
• the system 300 identifies “the” sound that is most pleasant for the patient in all circumstances, such as single voice, crowd voice, and concert voice, for example.
• the system 300 is capable of combining various sounds through base and harmonic frequency manipulations creating a cardinal algorithm that is most pleasant for the patient.
• patients may be able to self-test or having minimal assistance during the testing.
• the following values may be defined:
• MN M N BI-K + M N H1-K
• W2B10 - W2B5 - W2B6 + W2H1 + W2H2 - W2H3 P2
• Bl-K and Hl- K could be values between 1-K.

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• 2021
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