Introduction to Hearing Aids is a good introduction to technology inside hearing aids. The two basic types of technology for hearing aids are analog and digital. Analog hearing aids process electrical sound in the analog domain; the more recent digital hearing aids process electrical sound in the digital domain. The earliest analog hearing aids simply amplified both speech and noise, and were ordered after testing to determine the particular frequency response needed by the patient. Newer analog hearing aids can be programmed during the fitting process and can have multiple listening profiles. Digital hearing aids are also programmable during the fitting process and have multiple listening profiles that are selectable by the patient. The vast majority of hearing aids sold today are digital because of their increased performance and flexibility over the analog versions. Some hearing aids are beginning to use rechargeable single-cell lithium-ion (Li+) batteries, but most hearing aids are still powered by primary zinc-air batteries.
Introduction to Hearing Aids and Important Design Considerations application note introduces the styles of hearing aids, including behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC), and completely in the canal (CIC), as well as a brief summary of both analog and digital hearing aid technologies. Also discussed is the importance of the audio-processing path, the functions of electrical components, and some critical elements that designers must consider when selecting products.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Analog/Digital Hearing Aid with Bluetooth Compatibility
http://schematics.com/project/analogdigital-hearing-aid-with-bluetooth-compatibility-14515/
This circuit provides support to people that have hearing impairment. It is capable of receiving analog and digital signals. It also features immunity to noise that it will not turn ON unless a certain threshold of signal is reached.
The design is comprised of LM324 quadruple operational amplifier that operates with the NE555 timer for sound detection.
The digital side of the design is comprised of HC-05 Bluetooth module that act as transceiver of digital data. The SC18IM700 I2C bus controller with UART interface relates the Bluetooth module to the PCF8591P. The PCF8591P 8-bit A/D and D/A converter translates the digital signal to analog signal for the speaker output.
latest hearing aid technology says:
School districts that have the means to offer hearing children an extracurricular course in sign language can help to foster communication and friendships for students
with hearing difficulties. 5. Learning ASL can benefit those who are
hearing impaired as well as students who can hear because speaking and signing
instruction better addresses the learning styles of visual, kinesthetic, and
auditory learners.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can You Hear Me Now?
http://hackaday.com/2015/09/30/can-you-hear-me-now/
It’s great to build projects just to do something neat, to learn; to impress friends and other hackers. It’s even better to address a real need.
The Aegis is targeted at prevent hearing loss, primarily in teens since they use headsets so often. It’s equally applicable to adults and pre-teens. The Aegis works by limiting the sound level emitted to 85db, which is a safe level. Above that the risk of damage to the tiny hairs in the cochlea – the inner ear – increases dramatically with a 3db increase cutting the safety time in half.
My first hearing aids were analog devices. There were three frequency bands across the audio spectrum whose volumes could be custom set for my ears — resulting in crude and limited improvements in what I could hear. My current hearing aids are technological marvels of digital signal processing with a multitude of algorithms the audiologist can use to help me hear better.
I still need to ask people to repeat what they say at times. But who doesn’t? I had a successful career despite my loss. But it is still a royal pain-in-the-butt to miss out on one-third of the dialog in a movie, to not go to a local coffee house because I won’t understand the lyrics or comments by the musicians, and miss out on all the other small parts of life along these lines.
Devices that Extend the Body
All signs point to a coming revolution of devices that protect our bodies and make them work better. The 2015 Hackaday Prize theme is Build Something That Matters and that sentiment is obviously taking hold throughout the hardware hacker movement.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hearing Aids and Batteries: A Challenge Beyond Words and Music
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1328069&
Some products, such as the latest smartphones, get lots of attention and have a lot of glamour associated with them. Yet there are large groups of products which are extremely beneficial to specific audiences and require a diverse and multidisciplinary set of engineering and production skills, but are often unrecognized in the hot-buzz world of media and product coverage.
Hearing aids are in that second group. A very readable article in a recent issue of Machine Design, “Tech Advances Upgrade Hearing Aids,” detailed the latest in electronics, functionality, basic types, power supply, materials used, and construction. Today’s hearing aids are doing so much more than those of even just a few years ago that any engineer involved in mixed-signal applications should check it out. For example, do you know the five basic types of hearing aids?
Hearing aids and batteries: a challenge beyond words and music
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/power-points/4440618/Hearing-aids-and-batteries–a-challenge-beyond-words-and-music
Tomi Engdahl says:
Now hear this. Hearable tech takes a leap forward
http://www.electropages.com/2017/08/hearable-tech-take-a-leap-forward/?utm_campaign=&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=article&utm_content=Now+hear+this.+Hearable+tech+takes+a+leap+forward
Hearable technology has leapt forward recently. Kick-started by innovative new products like Doppler Lab’s Hear One earbuds and Apple’s Airpods. This exciting new category of device is redefining what a wearable should look and sound like.
Today’s most successful hearables are without doubt the Airpods from Apple. These elegant, slightly funny looking wireless earphones have changed our preconceived expectations in relation to how we listen to music. But, in reality, Airpods are just the start of the hearable story.
There are numerous new hearable devices promising to do more – much more. From enhancing our hearing, to replacing wrist-worn fitness trackers, hearables are here to stay, and their parameters go way beyond just music.
The Airpod Success
While wireless earphones have been on the market since 2015, it has taken the Apple Airpod offering to demonstrate their true potential. They rely on a few simple sensors to give them significant differentiation. Airpods use accelerometers, IR sensors and microphones and automatically connect to an iPhone via a Bluetooth connection.
While listening to music, if Airpods are taken out of the wearers ears, playback is paused courtesy of the IR sensors. When placed back again, music automatically resumes.
Microphones in each Airpod allow them to perform noise cancellation, thereby enabling speech and voice commands to be clearly heard even in noisy environments. Also Apple’s Siri voice assistant can be activated by double tapping the Airpods themselves.
All these capabilities are far from revolutionary, but it is the overall seamless execution of these devices which has made Airpods a hearable success.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/directional-hearing-aids