Anti-stuttering device

• US 20070010704A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB (Cochlear Limited)
• Original Assignee: Entific Medical Systems AB (Cochlear Limited)
• Inventors: Pitulia, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/58 Apparatus for correcting stammering or stuttering
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

A device for treating and reducing stuttering by utilizing auditory feedback. A bone conducting hearing aid apparatus is arranged to be attached to the skull bone of a user with a stuttering problem so that his ear canal is left free. A tactile component in the form of a vibrator mechanically transmits sound information to the inner ears of the user via the skull bone so that both cochleas are stimulated. The cochlea on the opposite side of the skull receives a signal that is further delayed and also has another frequency characteristics compared to the digital received by the nearest cochlea.

Claims

1. A device for treating and reducing stuttering by means of auditory feedback, the device comprising:

a bone conducting hearing aid apparatus arranged to be attached to a skull bone of a user with a stuttering problem so that an ear canal of the user is left free; and

a tactile component comprising a vibrator from which sound information is mechanically transmitted to both of inner ears of the user via the skull bone wherein signal processing of the hearing aid apparatus is adapted to stuttering problematics so that the user'"'"'s voice is fed back and not surrounding sound.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a skin penetrating member, wherein the apparatus is arranged to be mechanically anchored directly into the skull bone by means of osseointegration so that vibrations from the vibrator are transmitted directly into the skull bone.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to be mechanically anchored to the skull bone via the skin so that the vibrations from the vibrator are transmitted into the skull bone through the skin layer.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein frequency characteristics of the apparatus are adjustable.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a delay circuit.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein frequency characteristics of the apparatus are adapted to suppress surrounding sound and amplify the user'"'"'s own voice.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a forward directed directional microphone in order to suppress sound from other directions than a forward direction.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the delay circuit is adjustable.