A bone conduction device located at the deaf ear of a recipient suffering from single-sided deafness is configured to receive sound signals within a spatial region proximate to the deaf ear of the recipient. The bone conduction device is configured to generate and deliver, based on the sound signals received within the spatial region, sound vibrations to the recipient. The sound vibrations are configured to evoke perception of the received sound signals at a cochlea of a second ear of the recipient. The bone conduction device is also configured to generate and deliver tactile vibrations to the recipient contemporaneously with the sound vibrations. The tactile vibrations generate a vibro-tactile sensation proximate to the deaf ear of the recipient, but the vibro-tactile sensation is non-perceivable (not heard) at the cochlea of the second ear of the recipient.

A hearing system includes first and second hearing devices adapted for being located at first and second ears of a user, or for being fully or partially implanted in the head at the left and right ears of the user. The first hearing device includes a forward path having a1) an input transducer for converting a sound at the first hearing device to a first electric input signal including the sound; a processor for processing the first electric input signal, or a signal originating therefrom, and providing a first processed signal in dependence of a reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the first ear based on the first processed signal. The first hearing device further includes an analysis path having a first filter for filtering the first electric input signal and providing a first filtered signal in dependence of the reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; and transmitter circuitry configured to allow transmission of the first filtered signal to the second hearing device. The second hearing device includes receiver circuitry configured to allow reception of the first filtered signal from the first hearing device, and an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the second ear based on the first filtered signal or a processed version thereof.

Disclosed wireless systems, devices, and methods can leverage existing hardware for BLE communications to provide a low-latency streaming (LLS) link suitable for supporting CROS and BiCROS features in hearing aids. An illustrative embodiment of a low-latency audio streaming method includes: (a) sending intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal; and (b) for each intermittent packet: (A) listening for a responsive packet; and (B) sending the digital audio data in a retransmitted packet only if no responsive packet is detected. Any retransmitted packet that is sent follows the corresponding intermittent packet with a delay no greater than a length of two interframe spacing (IFS) intervals separated by a responsive packet. An illustrative embodiment of a low-latency audio streaming device includes a transmit chain and a receive chain. The transmit chain periodically transmits intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal. The receive chain operates to detect a responsive packet to each intermittent packet. The transmit chain retransmits a packet of digital audio data each time the receive chain fails to detect a responsive packet, ensuring a delay no greater than a length of two IFS intervals separated by a responsive packet.

A hearing aid is provided for use with a user having a first and second ears disposed on first and second body sides. The hearing aid apparatus is configured for enabling the user to hear sounds that originate from a plurality of directions and includes a first hearing aid member placeable on a user's first body side. The first hearing aid member includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's first ear and converting those received sounds into first transmittable electrical signals. A second hearing aid member is placeable on the user's second body side and is preferably a cochlear implant device including an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a user. The cochlear implant device includes a second transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's second ear, and converting the sounds into second electrical signals; and also includes a receiver for receiving the first transmittable electrical signals, and a first signal processor for processing the second electrical signals and first transmittable electrical signals into signals configured for being received by the cochlea of user's second ear for facilitating the hearing of sounds that would be received by both of the user's first and second ears.

A hearing system includes first and second hearing devices adapted for being located at first and second ears of a user, or for being fully or partially implanted in the head at the left and right ears of the user. The first hearing device includes a forward path having a1) an input transducer for converting a sound at the first hearing device to a first electric input signal including the sound; a processor for processing the first electric input signal, or a signal originating therefrom, and providing a first processed signal in dependence of a reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the first ear based on the first processed signal. The first hearing device further includes an analysis path having a first filter for filtering the first electric input signal and providing a first filtered signal in dependence of the reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; and transmitter circuitry configured to allow transmission of the first filtered signal to the second hearing device. The second hearing device includes receiver circuitry configured to allow reception of the first filtered signal from the first hearing device, and an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the second ear based on the first filtered signal or a processed version thereof.

A hearing prosthesis includes: a hearing loss processor configured to process an audio signal and compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing prosthesis, and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal based on the audio signal; an output transducer configured to convert the hearing loss compensated audio signal into an auditory output signal to be received by a human auditory system of the user; a near-field magnetic induction communication unit configured for wireless communication; and a magnetic field antenna operatively connected with the near-field magnetic induction communication unit; wherein at least a part of the magnetic field antenna is embedded in a multi-layer printed circuit board.

A hearing aid is provided for use with a user having a first and second ears disposed on first and second body sides. The hearing aid apparatus is configured for enabling the user to hear sounds that originate from a plurality of directions and includes a first hearing aid member placeable on a user's first body side. The first hearing aid member includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's first ear and converting those received sounds into first transmittable electrical signals. A second hearing aid member is placeable on the user's second body side and is preferably a cochlear implant device including an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a user. The cochlear implant device includes a second transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's second ear, and converting the sounds into second electrical signals; and also includes a receiver for receiving the first transmittable electrical signals, and a first signal processor for processing the second electrical signals and first transmittable electrical signals into signals configured for being received by the cochlea of user's second ear for facilitating the hearing of sounds that would be received by both of the user's first and second ears.

Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a protective sleeve for an external component of a hearing prosthesis.

The hearing aid apparatus includes a first hearing aid member and a second hearing aid member. The first hearing aid member is placeable on a patient's body, and includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the patient's first ear and converting these received sounds into first transmittable signals. The second hearing aid is placeable on a patient's body adjacent to the patient's second ear, and includes a receiver for receiving the first transmittable electrical signals and a second transducer for converting the first transmittable electrical signals into sound signals configured for delivery to the patient's second ear.

Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a protective sleeve for an external component of a hearing prosthesis.