In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of transmitting information from an ear tip to a contact hearing device, the method comprising the steps of: exciting a transmit coil, the transmit coil being positioned in the ear tip, wherein the transmit coil is wound on a core, the core including a ferromagnetic material; radiating an electromagnetic field from the first coil through the ear canal of a user; receiving the radiated electromagnetic field at a receive coil, the receive coil being positioned on a contact hearing device, the contact hearing device including a receive coil without a ferrite core; and transmitting the information from the transmit coil to the receive coil using, for example, near-field radiation.

A Personal Communication Device (PCD) is provided and includes a microphone, a speaker, and a PCD body, wherein the PCD body is configured as an ear cuff and includes a body first end, a body second end and a body middle portion. The PCD body further includes sound processing electronics, such that when a sound is received by the microphone, the sound processing electronics process the sound to generate a processed sound and communicates the processed sound to the speaker and outputs the processed sound into the user's ear canal, wherein the PCD is configured to be securely associated with an ear of a user such that when the PCD is associated with the ear of the user, and wherein the PCD is configured for wireless connectivity.

In embodiments of the invention, the invention comprises a light tip cable including a cartridge assembly affixed to a medial end of the cable, the cartridge assembly including an emitter housing where the emitter housing includes an opening at a medial end of the housing and a flange at a lateral end of the housing. In embodiments of the invention, the cartridge assembly includes a light emitting element in the housing extending to the opening, retention features covering at least a portion of the housing, including the flange, the retention features comprising a lateral face and a lobe and at least one load bearing strand extending from the cable to the emitter; and electrical connectors extending from the cable to the light emitting element.

The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid and detachable speaker unit assembly. The detachable speaker unit assembly comprises a fastening structure to provide an enhanced removal force and stable insertion into the ear canal of the user.

Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a user. The hearing device is configured to provide an audio signal to the user. The hearing device comprises a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly comprises a printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly comprises: a first circuit board; a second circuit board; and a third circuit board interconnected with the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The circuit assembly comprises a battery, and an output transducer for providing the audio signal, wherein the printed circuit board assembly is folded about the battery and the output transducer.

Presented herein are implantable sound sensors that include a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to a vibrating structure of a recipient's middle or inner ear. The non-uniform diaphragm includes a central region and a peripheral region, where the thickness of the central region is greater than the thickness of the peripheral region.

A hearing aid, comprising a microphone configured to produce a microphone output signal representing sounds transduced by the microphone; an earphone speaker configured to convert an equalized output electrical signal into acoustic waves; a Bluetooth wireless transceiver; and an automated processor configured to spot a plurality of different keywords; and selectively control a Bluetooth communication partner dependent on the spotted keyword.

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a multipurpose microphone for hearing devices. A hearing assistance device includes a first housing configured to be worn above an ear of a wearer and a second housing configured to be worn in the ear of the wearer. The device also includes a cable configured to connect to the first housing at a first end and to the second housing at the second end, and a microphone at the second end of the cable, the microphone including an input port facing an acoustic channel. A switch is provided in the acoustic channel, the switch having a first position such that acoustic input to the microphone is received from an inner portion of the ear of the wearer, and a second position such that acoustic input to the microphone is received from an area outside the ear of the wearer.

A system, such as an ear-wearable device or a hearing aid, can receive multiple audio signals representing a same audio content, can cross-correlate the multiple audio signals to determine relative delays between the audio signals, can apply the determined delays to at least one of the audio signals to form multiple synchronized audio signals, and can mix at least two of the synchronized audio signals in time-varying proportions to form an output audio signal. The system can optionally adjust the mix proportions, in real time, to increase or optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of the output audio signal. The system can optionally perform the cross-correlation repeatedly, at regular or irregular time intervals, to update the relative delays. The system can optionally divide the audio signals into frequency bands, and apply these operations to each frequency band, independent of the other frequency bands.

An ear-wearable electronic device includes one or more processors configured to detect presence of first and second hearing devices in a charging case, and to initiate a self-check protocol by at least one of the first and second hearing devices. The self-check protocol comprises wirelessly coupling the first and second hearing devices, selectively activating at least one electronic component of the first hearing device, and assessing performance of the second hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the first hearing device. The self-check protocol also comprises selectively activating at least one electronic component of the second hearing device, assessing performance of the first hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the second device, and storing results of the performance assessment in a memory.