Patent · US Expired

Fitting methodology and hearing prosthesis based on signal-to-noise ratio loss data

US7804973B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
5References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2003
Grant dateSep 28, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2460/01
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An individual with a hearing loss often experiences at least two distinct problems: 1) the hearing loss itself i.e. an increase in hearing threshold level, and 2) a signal-to-noise ratio loss (SNR loss) i.e. a loss of ability to understand high level speech in noise as compared to normal hearing individuals. According to one aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by selecting parameter values of a noise reduction algorithm or algorithms based on the individual user's SNR loss. Thereby, a degree of restoration/improvement of the SNR of noise-contaminated input signals of the hearing prosthesis has been made dependent on user specific loss data. According to another aspect of the present invention, a hearing prosthesis capable of controlling parameters of a noise reduction algorithms in dependence on the user's current listening environment as recognized and indicated by the environmental classifier has been provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.