Method and apparatus for real-ear measurements for receiver-in-canal devices

• US 8,315,402 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhang, Tao, Spaulding, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Such, Matthew W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stowe, Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/414,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20090245525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/60, 381/71.6, 381/72, 381/312, 381/322, 381/324, 381/328, 381/330, 181/130, 181/135, 600/559, 607/55
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/04 Microphones H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for real ear measurement using a hearing assistance device fitted with a cover to provide real ear sounds to a microphone of the device. The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device cover for use in measuring coupler response and real ear coupler difference for improved real ear measurement and fitting.

Claims

1. A method for using a hearing assistance device including a receiver adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:

placing a cover on the hearing assistance device, the cover including a tube port adapted for connection to a sound tube for measurement of sound and a retention mechanism to fix the cover to the hearing assistance device, the retention mechanism including a locking lip at a first end of the cover and one or more locking legs at a second end of the cover;

placing the receiver in the ear canal;

playing sound using the receiver;

recording sound using the tube; and

adjusting one or more settings of the hearing assistance device by processing the recorded sounds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing a cover includes acoustically blocking a second microphone opening of the hearing assistance device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing includes processing the recorded sounds using a real ear coupler difference (RECD).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning an end of the sound tube proximal the receiver in the ear canal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting an end of the sound tube through an opening of an ear bud holding the receiver in the ear canal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the real ear measurement cover includes removing a first cover.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a real ear coupler difference (RECD) using the recorded sound.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein playing sound includes playing a plurality of sounds having a frequency between 0 and 8000 hertz.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the frequency of each sound of the plurality of sounds is separated in frequency by about 100 hertz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein playing sound includes adjusting the sound within a linear range of the receiver to provide a substantially equal signal-to-noise ratio across a range of sound frequencies.

11. A system for real ear measurement comprising:

a hearing assistance device adapted for placement of a receiver in a ear canal of a user; and

a cover, the cover including;

a retention mechanism to attach the cover to the hearing assistance device, the retention mechanism including a locking lip at a first end of the cover;

a first aperture configured to approximately align with a microphone port of the hearing assistance device when the cover is placed on the hearing assistance device;

a second aperture to connect to a sound tube; and

an acoustic channel connecting the first aperture to the second aperture.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the retention mechanism includes one or more locking legs at a second end of the cover.

13. The cover of claim 11, further comprising the sound tube coupled to the second aperture.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sound tube comprises a pliable rubber portion.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the cover is adapted to block a second microphone port of the hearing assistance device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the cover is plastic.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the cover is rigid.

18. A cover for a hearing assistance device, comprising:

a first end;

a second end;

a retention mechanism to attach the cover to the hearing assistance device, the retention mechanism including a locking lip at the first end and one or more locking legs at the second end;

a first aperture configured to approximately align with a microphone port of a hearing assistance device when the cover is placed on the hearing assistance device;

a second aperture to connect to a sound tube; and

an acoustic channel connecting the first aperture to the second aperture,

wherein the cover is adapted to acoustically seal at least a portion of a microphone of the hearing assistance device.

19. The cover of claim 18 wherein the one or more locking legs comprise one or more bumps and one or more indents to maintain sufficient pressure to fix the cover to the hearing assistance device.

20. The cover of claim 18, wherein the cover is configured to replace a standard cover design.

21. A method for using a hearing assistance device including a receiver adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:

placing a cover on the hearing assistance device, the cover including a tube port adapted for connection to a sound tube for measurement of sound;

placing the receiver in the ear canal;

playing sound using the receiver;

recording sound using the tube; and

adjusting one or more settings of the hearing assistance device by processing the recorded sounds,

wherein placing a cover includes acoustically blocking a second microphone opening of the hearing assistance device.

22. A method for using a hearing assistance device including a receiver adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:

placing a cover on the hearing assistance device, the cover including a tube port adapted for connection to a sound tube for measurement of sound;

placing the receiver in the ear canal;

playing sound using the receiver;

recording sound using the tube; and

adjusting one or more settings of the hearing assistance device by processing the recorded sounds

wherein placing the real ear measurement cover includes removing a first cover.

23. A system for real ear measurement comprising:

a hearing assistance device adapted for placement of a receiver in a ear canal of a user; and

a cover, the cover including;

a retention mechanism to attach the cover to the hearing assistance device;

a first aperture configured to approximately align with a microphone port of the hearing assistance device when the cover is placed on the hearing assistance device;

a second aperture to connect to a sound tube; and

an acoustic channel connecting the first aperture to the second aperture,

wherein the cover is adapted to block a second microphone port of the hearing assistance device.