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Processor controlled hearing aid

1986; Acoustical Society of America; Volume: 80; Issue: S1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1121/1.2023747

1520-9024

Samuel Gilman,

Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

The amplified signal input from the hearing-aid microphone is split into one-third octave bands, each having its own processor-controlled band amplilfier. Control signals are obtained from a feedback probe microphone at the medial end of the hearing aid earmold. This signal is analyzed into one-third octaves, digitized, and compared to stored band levels in the processor (as obtained from the audiologically specified eardrum SPL and spectrum). The gain of each band amplifier is controlled by the processor so that the spectrum and SPL at the eardrum is the same as the stored spectrum and SPL regardless of variations in input signals, hearing aid characteristics, and external ear acoustics. Processor control of averaging, attack, and release times have been provided. Preliminary ANSI S3.25-1979 simulator graphic and listening tests show that band levels and averages at the eardrum are maintained within a few dB for variations of over 30 dB in the input spectrum and level.