Speech-based optimization of digital hearing devices

• US 20050027537A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited, University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: Audigence Incorporated
• Inventors: Bedenbaugh, Purvis, Holmes, Alice E., Krause, Lee S., Shrivastav, Rahul
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/00 Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00 muting semiconductor-based amplifiers when some special characteristics of a signal are sensed by a speech detector, e.g. sensing when no signal is present, H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A method of tuning a digital hearing device can include playing portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech. The method also can include receiving user responses to played portions of test audio heard through the digital hearing device and comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio. An operational parameter of the digital hearing device can be adjusted according to the comparing step, wherein the operational parameter is associated with one or more of the distinctive features of speech.

Claims

1. A method of tuning a digital hearing device comprising:

playing portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

receiving user responses to played portions of test audio heard through the digital hearing device;

comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

adjusting an operational parameter of the digital hearing device according to said comparing step, wherein the operational parameter is associated with the one or more distinctive features of speech.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said adjusting step, associating the one or more distinctive features of the portions of test audio with the operational parameter of the digital hearing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each distinctive feature of speech is associated with at least one frequency characteristic and the operational parameter controls processing of frequency characteristics associated with at least one of the distinctive features.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each distinctive feature of speech is associated with at least one temporal characteristic and the operational parameter controls processing of temporal characteristics associated with at least one of the distinctive features.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that at least a portion of the digital hearing device is located in a sub-optimal location according to said comparing step.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing each said step of claim 1 for at least one different language.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing each said step of claim 1 for a plurality of different users of similar hearing devices.

8. A method of evaluating a communication channel comprising:

playing, over the communication channel, portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

receiving user responses to played portions of test audio;

comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

associating distinctive features of the portions of test audio with operational parameters of the communication channel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting at least one of the operational parameters of the communication channel according to said comparing and associating steps.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel comprises an acoustic environment formed by an architectural structure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel comprises an underwater acoustic environment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel comprises an aviation environment affecting speech and hearing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the effects include at least one of G-force, masks, and the Lombard effect.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the portions of test audio comprise speech from a speaker experiencing at least one of stress, fatigue, and deception.

15. A system for tuning a digital hearing device comprising:

means for playing portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

means for receiving user responses to played portions of test audio heard through the digital hearing device;

means for comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

means for adjusting an operational parameter of the digital hearing device according to a result from said means for comparing, wherein the operational parameter is associated with the one or more distinctive features of speech.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for associating distinctive features of the portions of test audio with the operational parameter of the digital hearing device, wherein said means for associating is operable prior to said means for adjusting.

17. A system for evaluating a communication channel comprising:

means for playing, over the communication channel, portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

means for receiving user responses to played portions of test audio through the communication channel;

means for comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

means for associating distinctive features of the portions of test audio with operational parameters of the communication channel.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting at least one of the operational parameters of the communication channel according to results obtained from said means for comparing and said means for associating.

24. The machine readable storage of claim 19, further comprising performing each said step of claim 18 for at least one different language.

19. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

playing portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

recording user responses to played portions of test audio heard through a digital hearing device;

comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

adjusting an operational parameter of the digital hearing device according to said comparing step, wherein the operational parameter is associated with the one or more distinctive features of speech.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 19, further comprising, prior to said adjusting step, associating the one or more distinctive features of the portions of test audio with the operational parameter of the digital hearing device.

21. The machine readable storage of claim 19, wherein each distinctive feature of speech is associated with at least one particular frequency characteristic and the operational parameter controls processing of frequency characteristics associated with at least one of the distinctive features.

22. The machine readable storage of claim 19, wherein each distinctive feature of speech is associated with at least one particular temporal characteristic and the operational parameter controls processing of temporal characteristics associated with at least one of the distinctive features.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 19, further comprising determining that at least a portion of the digital hearing device is located in a sub-optimal location according to said comparing step.

25. The machine readable storage of claim 19, further comprising performing each said step of claim 19 for a plurality of different users of similar hearing devices.

26. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

playing, over a communication channel, portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech;

recording user responses to played portions of test audio;

comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio; and

associating distinctive features of the portions of test audio with operational parameters of the communication channel.

27. The machine readable storage of claim 26, further comprising adjusting at least one of the operational parameters of the communication channel according to said comparing and associating steps.

28. The machine readable storage of claim 27, wherein the communication channel comprises an acoustic environment formed by an architectural structure.

29. The machine readable storage of claim 27, wherein the communication channel comprises an underwater acoustic environment.

30. The machine readable storage of claim 27, wherein the communication channel comprises an aviation environment affecting speech and hearing.

31. The machine readable storage of claim 30, wherein the effects include at least one of G-force, masks, and the Lombard effect.

32. The machine readable storage of claim 27, wherein the portions of test audio comprise speech from a speaker experiencing at least one of stress, fatigue, and deception.