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Signal processing circuit and method for increasing speech intelligibility

  • US 6,647,123 B2
  • Filed: 03/04/2002
  • Issued: 11/11/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of processing an audio signal in a hearing aid for increasing speech intelligibility to a human, comprising:

  • receiving an audio signal;

    differentially amplifying a first frequency range that substantially comprises first speech formant frequencies and a second frequency range that substantially comprises second formant frequencies of the audio signal;

    mixing an injected inaudible signal tone with the audio signal;

    sensing a level of presence of the signal tone; and

    automatically controlling gain amplification of only the second frequency range based on the sensed level of the signal tone;

    the controlling the gain amplification based on the sensed level to substantially prevent regenerative oscillation of the audio signal and to amplify the second formant frequencies without creating howling.

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