New Developments in Hearing Technology Dave Gordey, M. Sc. AUD (c)
Jan 03, 2016
New Developments in Hearing Technology
Dave Gordey, M. Sc. AUD (c)
Let’s Talk About…..
New Features of Hearing Aids Directionality Noise Reduction Adaptation Manager Datalogging New Designs And Next Generation in Hearing
What is Directionality?
Two microphones Optimal Port spacing Optimal mic alignment
A good way to improve speech in noise!
Dir
ect
ionalit
y ind
ex (
DI)
- d
B
First Generation -Manual Directionality
Underlying assumptions
Target is in front Noise is elsewhere Manual switching required
Microphone Directionality
Now - Automatic Directionality
Switches automatically between omni-directional and fixed directional microphones.
Uses Artificial Intelligence to make decisions.
Noise Reduction
Noise interferes with speech understanding
Likely linked to auditory fatigue
Most environments have some noise present
Noise Reduction
1.Modulation Based NoiseManagement
2. Tristate Noise Management
Two Types
Speech
Noise
Speech + Noise
“Looks like noise”
Minimal Modulations
Highly Modulated
First Generation of Noise Reduction - Modulation Detection
Tristate Noise Reduction
Automatic Adaptation Manager
Automatic transition to the target prescription
Customizable transition time (start and end-time)
Smooth adaptation for a smoother acclimatization
SKI-Slope Losses
Focus on more than just audibilityLess gain in HFMore gain in MFMore focus on transition region
Data logging
Hearing aid has a built in “artificial memory”Tells us about:
Hearing aid use
Operation of on/off switch
Battery consumption
Introducing Delta. . .
The look of the future
Delta
Design Nothing like a traditional
hearing aid Fits Mild to Moderate-Severe
Understanding in noise Excellent bandwidth Advanced directionality
Sound quality and comfort Open fitting/Micromold Speaker in the ear State-of-the-art automatics
How can people with hearing loss become hearing
empowered?
Answer
Connecting them to the Near World and the Far World
The Near World
Hearing our friends, family and colleagues in different environments.
Hearing and understanding the sounds of our world
Living in the soundscape.
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Connecting to the Far World
The Far World
The world is going wireless
Multimedia is now a big part of our life
Professional and Personal Lives
We all need access to the far world
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Ramsdell and WWII Veterans
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•Social
•Signal/Warning
•Primitive
Disconnected from their Soundscape
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The importance of auditory spatial resolution
(or why it’s good to know where sounds come from..)
Demo with lights out
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Speech understanding in noise:
De-construct the auditory scene, find the voice of interest
Not just identifying components, but “following a voice”
Speech events have little or no meaning in isolation – Meaning accumulates over time…
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What is the most important mechanism to maintain a
persons Soundscape?
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Hint #1
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Hint #2
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Two ears are better than one
Binaural hearing gives us a sense of place Binaural hearing allows us to localize
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Localization ability: Maintains SoundScape Improves Speech/Noise
Binauaral hearing is most important for good localization ability
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How do Hearing Aids Currently
Affect Localization ability
Video
Excitement and Innovation….
Binaural Processing
Spatial Sound: Ensures that auditory system is sent
and accurate representation of the spatial environment
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Binaural DFC
Unique - First DFC system ever to benefit from binaural processing
Benefit- More precise feedback detection- Avoid “false positives” and common artifacts of conventional DFC systems.
Conventional
Epoq
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Extreme Bandwidth
Unique- Bandwidth extends up to ~10,000 Hz
Benefit- Improved sound quality- Better localization- Greater naturalness and fidelity.
Extended Bandwidth & Audibility
. . . can they hear it?
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Life Learning
Unique
1. Detailed learning of Volume Control preferences – in many different types of environments
Benefit - Convenience, ease of use- Discreetness (reduce need to use VC)- Volume is automatically adjusted to match each situation- Higher acceptance and long term satisfaction
Phone and Streamer Demo
video
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Streamer
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Streamer Benefits
Mobile phone: Hassle free, wire free. Listen with both ears
Connect to your IPOD - Stream music - directly into the hearing aids
Easy to Use.
Etc.
Summary
Questions?