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New Developments in Hearing Technology

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

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New Developments in Hearing Technology

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  1. New Developments in Hearing Technology • Dave Gordey, M. Sc. AUD (c)

  2. Let’s Talk About….. • New Features of Hearing Aids • Directionality • Noise Reduction • Adaptation Manager • Datalogging • New Designs • And Next Generation in Hearing

  3. What is Directionality? • Two microphones • Optimal Port spacing • Optimal mic alignment • A good way to improve speech in noise! Directionality index (DI) - dB

  4. Microphone Directionality • First Generation -Manual Directionality • Underlying assumptions • Target is in front • Noise is elsewhere • Manual switching required

  5. Now - Automatic Directionality • Switches automatically between omni-directional and fixed directional microphones. • Uses Artificial Intelligence to make decisions.

  6. Noise Reduction • Noise interferes with speech understanding • Likely linked to auditory fatigue • Most environments have some noise present

  7. Noise Reduction • Two Types 1.Modulation Based Noise Management 2. Tristate Noise Management

  8. First Generation of Noise Reduction - Modulation Detection • Speech • Noise • Speech + Noise Highly Modulated Minimal Modulations “Looks like noise”

  9. Tristate Noise Reduction

  10. Automatic Adaptation Manager • Automatic transition to the target prescription • Customizable transition time (start and end-time) • Smooth adaptation for a smoother acclimatization

  11. SKI-Slope Losses • Focus on more than just audibility • Less gain in HF • More gain in MF • More focus on transition region

  12. Data logging • Hearing aid has a built in “artificial memory” • Tells us about: • Hearing aid use • Operation of on/off switch • Battery consumption

  13. The look of the future Introducing Delta. . .

  14. 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

  15. How can people with hearing loss become hearing empowered?

  16. Answer • Connecting them to the Near World and the Far World

  17. The Near World • Hearing our friends, family and colleagues in different environments. • Hearing and understanding the sounds of our world • Living in the soundscape.

  18. Connecting to the Far World 18

  19. 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

  20. Ramsdell and WWII Veterans 20

  21. Disconnected from their Soundscape • Social • Signal/Warning • Primitive 21

  22. The importance of auditory spatial resolution (or why it’s good to know where sounds come from..)Demo with lights out 22

  23. 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… 23

  24. What is the most important mechanism to maintain a persons Soundscape? 24

  25. Hint #1 25

  26. Hint #2 26

  27. Two ears are better than one Binaural hearing gives us a sense of place Binaural hearing allows us to localize 27

  28. Localization ability: Maintains SoundScape Improves Speech/Noise Binauaral hearing is most important for good localization ability 28

  29. How do Hearing Aids Currently Affect Localization ability 29

  30. Video • Excitement and Innovation….

  31. Binaural Processing Spatial Sound: Ensures that auditory system is sent and accurate representation of the spatial environment 31

  32. Binaural DFC Conventional • 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. Epoq 32

  33. 33

  34. Extreme Bandwidth Unique- Bandwidth extends up to ~10,000 Hz Benefit • Improved sound quality • Better localization • Greater naturalness and fidelity. 34

  35. Extended Bandwidth & Audibility . . . can they hear it?

  36. 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 36

  37. Phone and Streamer Demo video

  38. Streamer 38

  39. 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. 39

  40. Summary

  41. Questions?

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