A binaural hearing system comprises first and second hearing aids, each comprising antenna and transceiver circuitry allowing the exchange of audio signals between them and a BTE-part adapted for being located at or behind the external ear (pinna) of the user and comprising front and rear input transducers providing respective front and rear electric input signals. Each of the hearing aids comprises primary and secondary adaptive 2-channel beamformers each providing a spatially filtered signal based on first and second beamformer-input signals. The primary and secondary 2-channel beamformers are coupled in a cascaded structure. The inputs to the primary 2-channel beamformers are, locally generated, front and rear electric input signals. The inputs to the secondary 2-channel beamformer may be beamformed signals from the first and second hearing aids respectively. The spatially filtered signal of the secondary 2-channel beamformer may comprise an estimate of a target signal in the environment of the user.

A hearing aid system comprising at least a first hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid is configured to establish a communication link over the internet with a remote entity based on a protocol stack, wherein the protocol stack includes an internet protocol, and the protocol stack is implemented in the first hearing aid.

Systems and methods for detecting and diagnosing causes of subpar performance of a hearing device are provided for a user. The hearing device may include a housing, a receiver and a sound processor configured to send signals to the receiver. The receiver may be configured to output audio signals from the signals sent by the sound processor. A base unit may include a main body having a cradle formed therein. The cradle may be configured to receive the hearing device therein. A base unit microphone interfaces with the cradle and may be configured to receive output audio signals from the receiver when the hearing device is received in the cradle. The base unit microphone and the receiver remain in open communication with a space exterior of the base unit when the hearing device has been received in the cradle. A processor associated with the system may be configured to compare signal energy levels of test audio signals produced by the base unit microphone, in response to the audio signals received from the receiver, with signal energy levels of reference audio signals, and to indicate a blockage of the receiver has occurred when a difference between the signal energy levels of test audio signals and the signal energy levels of reference audio signals exceeds a threshold difference.

Embodiments are directed to an electronic device configured to measure temperature from within an ear canal having a first bend, a second bend, and a tympanic membrane. The device comprises an enclosure comprising an in-canal section dimensioned for deployment in the ear canal. The in-canal section comprises a trough extending axially along at least a portion of the in-canal section and arranged to be positioned between the first bend and the tympanic membrane when the in-canal section is fully deployed in the ear canal. A temperature sensor is disposed in the trough. The temperature sensor comprises a flexible circuit board, a distal temperature sensor disposed on the flexible circuit board, and a proximal temperature sensor disposed on the flexible circuit board and situated proximal of, and spaced apart from, the distal temperature sensor in an outer ear direction.

Presented herein are techniques for adapting settings/operations of a remote microphone device associated with an auditory prosthesis based on a desired/preferred listening direction of a recipient of the auditory prosthesis. More specifically, an auditory prosthesis worn by a recipient and a remote microphone device, which are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, are both positioned in the same spatial area. At least one of a recipient-specified (e.g., recipient-preferred) region of interest within the spatial area, or a recipient-specified listening direction, is determined. Based on a determined relative positioning (e.g., location and orientation) of the remote microphone device and the auditory prosthesis, operation of the remote microphone device is dynamically adapted so that the remote microphone device can focus on (e.g., have increased sensitivity to) sounds originating from the recipient-specified region of interest/listening direction.

The present invention is directed to a wearable system wherein elements of the system, including various sensors adapted to detect biometric and other data and/or to deliver drugs, are positioned proximal to, on the ear or in the ear canal of a person. In embodiments of the invention, elements of the system are positioned on the ear or in the ear canal for extended periods of time. For example, an element of the system may be positioned on the tympanic membrane of a user and left there overnight, for multiple days, months, or years. Because of the position and longevity of the system elements in the ear canal, the present invention has many advantages over prior wearable biometric and drug delivery devices.

An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

A hearing aid system assists a user's ability to hear. The system has a hearing aid instrument worn on the user's head. A sound signal from the user's surroundings is recorded and converted into input audio signals by two input transducers. The input audio signals are processed in a signal processing step for generating an output audio signal, which is output by an output transducer. The input audio signals or audio signals derived therefrom by pre-processing are direction-dependently damped by an adaptive beamformer according to the stipulation of a variable directivity with a directional strength to generate a directed audio signal. The directivity is varied with a specified adaptation speed such that the energy content of the directed audio signal is minimized. The adaptation speed and/or the directional strength are variably set on a basis of an analysis of the input audio signals or of the pre-processed audio signals.

Methods and systems are described herein for improving audio for hearing impaired content consumers. An example method may comprise determining a content asset. Closed caption data associated with the content asset may be determined. At least a portion of the closed caption data may be determined based on a user setting associated with a hearing impairment. Compensating audio comprising a frequency translation associated with at least the portion of the closed caption data may be generated. The content asset may be caused to be output with audio content comprising the compensating audio and the original audio.

Presented herein are techniques for generating information characterizing an amount of vibration isolation between an implantable vibration sensor and an implantable mechanical actuator (actuator), when each are implanted in a recipient. In particular, the implantable mechanical actuator is configured to generate and deliver, based on one or more actuator control signals, mechanical stimulation signals to the recipient. The vibration sensor is configured to capture vibrations induced by the delivery of the mechanical stimulation signals to the recipient. A vibrational transfer function relating a position of the vibration sensor to the actuator is then generated based on the captured vibrations and the attributes of the actuator control signals. The vibrational transfer function provides an indication of the vibration isolation present between the vibration sensor and the actuator, at their respective locations within the recipient.