WO2014125163A1

WO2014125163A1 - Apparatus and method for remedying auditory delay

Info

Publication number: WO2014125163A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hannu HÄTINEN; Klaus Turhanen
Original assignee: Hätinen Hannu; Klaus Turhanen
Priority date: 2013-02-12
Filing date: 2014-01-21
Publication date: 2014-08-21
Also published as: CN105052174A; KR20150116858A; JP2016510183A; JP6444318B2; FI20135125L

Abstract

Apparatus and method for remedying an auditory defect, which apparatus comprises a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements (109, 110) and in which is a first channel (111) and a second channel (112), an input (120) for an incoming sound signal, and a switching circuit, which is configured to switch the input (120) for an incoming sound signal to the first channel (111) and to the second channel (112) of the sound reproduction means. In the switching circuit is a first delayer element (105) and a second delayer element (106), wherein the first delayer element (105) is configured to form a delay for the first channel and the second delayer element (106) is configured to form a delay for the second channel. The delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element (106) is configured to be adjustable.

Description

Apparatus and method for remedying auditory delay

The invention relates to improvement of auditory learning and also to an apparatus and a method for remedying auditory delay.

Background of the invention The sense of hearing, hearing problems and individualized auditory stimulation have been studied for a long time. The theoretical premise for individualized auditory stimulation is based on studies carried out in the 1950s, which related to hypersensitivity of hearing. It has been observed that an imbalance of hearing affects the early stages of speech development and learning to read, and also causes psychiatric problems.

For example, the French physician Alfred Tomatis has developed a method wherein low-frequency sounds are filtered out of sound stimuli and the sounds thus processed are used as training exercises in hearing. Many people suffering from learning difficulties have been diagnosed as having an auditory processing disorder and, particularly at low frequencies, difficulty in hearing. Auditory cognition disorder, particularly owing to the temporal structure and rapid transience of auditory cues, is often also linked to reading disability. In the observations, auditory processing disorders appear in early childhood as delayed development of language and speech, but problematic features are retained by many people into adulthood, causing leaning difficulties.

One example of an auditory processing disorder is an auditory delay, which results from unsuccessful synchronization in the brain of a sound heard by both ears. When sounds are not synchronized, a sound that has come via one ear is delayed, and in this way essentially affects the language-learning skill of the person.

Known in the art are devices and methods e.g. for solving a stuttering problem. Publication US3101081 describes a device for solving a stuttering problem. The device according to publication US3101081 is intended to reduce disturbances in lateralization, by means of which device the volume of sound coming into one of the ears is adjusted. A hearing aid device is also described in publication US2010172506, the aim of which device is to ameliorate a hearing disorder in one of the ears. The device described by US2010172506 functions by means of microphones (1R, 1L) arranged in two ears. The device thus functions in such a way that the electrical signals produced by the microphones in both ears are combined, and the output sound is consequently repeated on the side with good hearing. The signals produced by the left-hand and right-hand microphones are first combined, and after that the signal SL(t) produced by the left-hand microphone is delayed for combining both signals.

Also known from publication US201131331 is a solution describing lateralization processing, by the aid of which a system has been made to identify and localize sound signals, even though the temporal receiving of sounds and the height of the sounds can be different between the left and the right ear. The system is arranged to replace only the naturally existing ITD and ILD (Interaural Time Difference/Interaural Level Difference) figures, which are caused by the difference of the locations of the right and left ear on the head towards the sound source.

By means of the solutions disclosed in prior art, audio signals coming to the ears cannot be individualized according to the needs of the user. Neither has a possible frequency response difference of the ears been taken into account in the prior-art publications.

Brief description of the invention

The aim of the solution of the invention is to remedy the deficiencies of prior art and to enable an improvement in auditory learning . The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method, by means of which audio signals coming to the ears can be individualized according to the needs of the user. In the device according to the invention there are adjustments in the audio channels both for an audio delay and/or for the frequency response. For improving auditory learning it must be possible to adjust the signals going to both ears individually and in such a way that the sounds coming to both ears would be synchronized. In the solution of the invention it is possible to compensate the delay in a sound coming to one ear compared to the delay in the sound coming to the other ear.

The apparatus according to the invention for remedying an auditory defect comprises a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements and in which is a first channel and a second channel, the apparatus further comprises an input for an incoming sound signal, and a switching circuit, which is configured to switch the input for an incoming sound signal to the first channel and to the second channel of the sound reproduction means. In the switching circuit is a first delayer element and a second delayer element. The first delayer element forms a delay for the first channel and the second delayer element forms a delay for the second channel. The delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element is configured to be adjustable.

In the apparatus according to the invention the audio channels, which are separated from each other, can be adjusted independently of each other or in some situations some adjustments can be made jointly to both channels. In the device according to the invention there can also be adjustments to the differential amplification and to the amplification of the final signal.

In one embodiment of the invention the frequency response of the audio signals going to the ears can be adjusted. In one embodiment of the invention the frequency response can be adjusted also independently of each other.

In the solution according to the invention the audio signal going to the ears can thus be delayed independently of each other, which is not possible in solutions according to prior art. The delayer elements of an audio signal, with which elements the delay of both ears can be changed singly or jointly, are also not disclosed in prior art, neither are e.g. two delayer elements, from one of which the delay would be constant and the delay of the other adjustable, disclosed in prior art. With known technologies and devices, therefore, the audio response and/or auditory delay of ears cannot be synchronized. The adjustment of both for the specific ear and for the specific patient can be useful for adjusting a comprehensive auditory remedying response of the ears and for facilitating auditory learning.

Brief description of the figures In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid some examples of its embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 presents, as a block diagram, a solution according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention In the solution according to the invention signals coming from an audio source are processed for both ears separately. The audio signals are separated from each other, they are amplified and this amplification can be separately adjustable in the signals going to both ears or it can be commonly adjustable. The solution according to the invention can also have the possibility of remedying the frequency response of an audio signal. The possibility of processing a frequency response can be implemented for both ears separately. In addition to a possible processing stage for the frequency response is a possibility to adjust the delay of the audio signal. This adjustment is to both channels separately. The final stage can be an amplification stage, but a final amplification stage is optional in the solution of the invention. Last in the channels is a sound reproduction device, e.g. earphones or loudspeakers, from out of which the audio signal comes. Fig. 1 presents one solution according to the invention. The apparatus according to the invention receives a signal via the input 120 for an incoming sound signal. Connected to the input 120 for an incoming sound signal can be e.g. one or more microphones or some other sound source. The channels, 111, 112, which are intended for both ears, are separated from each other. The channels can be separated from each other e.g. with separating stages 101, 102 of the channels. The frequency response of the signals of the channels 111, 112 can be changed with the frequency response adjustment stages 103, 104, each channel having its own stage, and the operation of them is fully independent of each other. The signals in the channels 111, 112 can be delayed, i.e. a delay can be formed for them with the delayer elements 105, 106. The delayer elements 105, 106 can be e.g. delay circuits. The delays can, in the solution according to the invention, be adjusted independently and are independent of each other for both channels.

The apparatus can also comprise amplification stages 107, 108, by means of which the signal can be amplified. The amplification can be of the same magnitude for both channels 111, 112 or in a second embodiment of a different magnitude for both channels 111, 112 and independent of each other. The amplification can also be adjustable for the specific channel or in a second embodiment the amplification can be adjustable for both channels as the same and simultaneously. The signal is reproduced with the sound reproduction means of the apparatus, which comprises two sound reproduction elements 109, 110. The sound reproduction means can be an earphone or a loudspeaker unit.

The invention thus relates to an apparatus for remedying an auditory defect, which apparatus comprises a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements 109, 110 and in which is a first channel 111 and a second channel 112, and the apparatus further comprises an input 120 for an incoming sound signal, and a switching circuit, which is configured to switch the input 120 for an incoming sound signal to the first channel 111 and to the second channel 112 of the sound reproduction means. In the switching circuit is a first delayer element 105 and a second delayer element 106, wherein the first delayer element 105 is configured to form a delay for the first channel 111 and the second delayer element 106 is configured to form a delay for the second channel 112. The delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element 106 is configured to be adjustable.

In one embodiment of the invention the delay of the first channel 111 formed by the first delayer element 105 is constant. In one embodiment of the invention the delays of the first and second channel are configured to be adjustable independently of each other. In one embodiment of the invention the delay of the second channel is configured to be adjustable in the range of approx. 25 - 85 ms.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus further comprises means for adjusting 103, 104 the frequency response of the first and second channel.

In one embodiment of the invention the frequency responses of the first and second channel are configured to be adjustable independently of each other.

In one embodiment of the invention the first channel 111 is the left- hand channel and the second channel 112 is the right-hand channel.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus further comprises means for amplifying 107, 108 the signals in the first and in the second channel and the amplification can be separately adjustable for both channels or it can be commonly adjustable for channels.

In one embodiment of the invention the sound reproduction means is a loudspeaker apparatus or earphones.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus further comprises one or more microphones connected to the input 120 for incoming sound.

The invention thus also relates to a method for remedying an auditory defect with an apparatus, which comprises a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements 109, 110 and in which is a first channel 111 and a second channel 112, and which apparatus further comprises an input 120 for an incoming sound signal, and a switching circuit, in which switching circuit is a first delayer element 105 and a second delayer element 106. In the method the input 102 for an incoming sound signal is switched to the first and to the second channel of the sound reproduction means, and the first delayer element 105 forms a delay for the first channel 111 and the second delayer element 106 forms a delay for the second channel 112, wherein the delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element 106 is adjustable.

In one embodiment of the invention the delays of the first and second channel are adjusted independently of each other.

In one embodiment of the invention the frequency responses of the first and second channel are adjusted .

In one embodiment of the invention the frequency responses of the first and second channel are adjusted independently of each other. In one embodiment of the invention the signals in the first and in the second channel are amplified and this amplification can be separately adjusted for both channels or the amplification can be adjusted as an adjustment common to both channels. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention are not either limited solely to the examples described above, and that they may for these reasons be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can if necessary be used separately to each other.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remedying an auditory defect, characterized in that the apparatus comprises

a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements (109, 110) and in which is a first channel (111) and a second channel (112),

an input (120) for an incoming sound signal, and

a switching circuit, which is configured to switch the input (120) for an incoming sound signal to the first channel (111) and to the second channel (112) of the sound reproduction means, and

in which switching circuit is a first delayer element (105) and a second delayer element (106), wherein the first delayer element (105) is configured to form a delay for the first channel (111) and the second delayer element (106) is configured to form a delay for the second channel (112),

wherein the delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element (106) is configured to be adjustable.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delay of the first channel formed by the first delayer element (105) is constant.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the delays of the first and second channel are configured to be adjustable independently of each other.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein the delay of the second channel is configured to be adjustable in the range of approx. 25 - 85 ms.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for adjusting (103, 104) the frequency response of the first and second channel.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the frequency responses of the first and second channel are configured to be adjustable independently of each other.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein the first channel (111) is the left-hand channel and the second channel (112) is the right-hand channel.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises for amplifying (107, 108) the signals in the first and in the second channel and this amplification can be separately adjustable for both channels or it can be commonly adjustable for channels.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 8, wherein the sound reproduction means is a loudspeaker apparatus or earphones.

10. The apparatus further comprises one or more microphones connected to the input (120) for incoming sound.

11. Method for remedying an auditory defect with an apparatus, which comprises a sound reproduction means, which comprises two sound reproduction elements (109, 110) and in which is a first channel (111) and a second channel (112), and which apparatus further comprises an input (120) for an incoming sound signal, and a switching circuit, in which switching circuit is a first delayer element (105) and a second delayer element (106), characterized in that in the method : the input (120) for an incoming sound signal is switched to the first (111) and to the second channel (112) of the sound reproduction means, and

the first delayer element (105) forms a delay for the first channel (111) and the second delayer element (106) forms a delay for the second channel (112), and

wherein the delay of the second channel formed by the second delayer element (106) is adjustable.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the delay of the first channel formed by the first delayer element (105) is constant.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the delays of the first and second channel are adjusted independently of each other.

14. Method according to any of claims 11 - 13, wherein the delay of the second channel is configured to be adjustable in the range of approx. 25 - 85 ms.

15. Method according to any of claims 11 - 14, wherein the frequency responses of the first and second channel are adjusted.

16. Method according to any of claims 11 - 15, wherein the frequency responses of the first and second channel are adjusted independently of each other.

17. Method according to any of claims 11 - 16, wherein the signals in the first and in the second channel are amplified and this amplification can be separately adjusted for both channels or the amplification can be adjusted as an adjustment common to both channels.