Systems and methods for assisting user with hearing by amplifying sound using an amplifier with gain and amplitude controls for a plurality of frequencies; and applying a learning machine to identify an aural environment and adjust the amplifiers for optimum hearing.

There is provided a system for estimating a total acoustic attenuation of a hearing protection device including an interface at a distal end and a sound canal extending from the interface to a sound opening at a medial end of the hearing protection device. The system comprises: a measurement unit including a loudspeaker and a microphone and being attachable to the interface in such a manner that, when the hearing protection device is worn in an ear canal of a user, the loudspeaker and the microphone are in acoustic communication, via the sound canal of the hearing protection device; a control unit configured to provide the loudspeaker with test audio signals to generate test sounds in the occluded ear canal volume and to receive test response audio signals captured by the microphone from the test sounds; and an evaluation unit configured to estimate a leakage acoustic impedance.

An ear-wearable electronic device includes a shell having a uniquely-shaped outer surface that corresponds uniquely to an ear geometry of a user of the ear-wearable device. The device includes an elongated sensor assembly. A mounting bridge is formed integrally with the shell and has a mounting surface that supports the elongated sensor assembly. An elongated void is in the shell that exposes the mounting surface of the mounting bridge. The shell includes an access void that extends from the inner surface to the outer surface of the shell near a first end of the mounting bridge. The access void is larger than a minor cross section of the elongated sensor assembly such that the elongated sensor assembly is able to pass through the access void and be held against the mounting surface.

Auricular attachments should be comfortable for long term wear. An auricular interface based on a skirt attachment is disclosed. By separating the uplifting force of the skirt from a separate downward force a more comfortable wearing is achieved. The skirt can optionally be pleated. The objective is achieved by a skirt structure having an outer surface that contacts least a part of an inner part of an outer boundary of a concha of a pinna, without the skirt touching the floor of the concha.

Shape memory polymers allow the fabrication of objects that have a permanent (first) shape, and which can be programmed to adopt a temporary (second) shape, and are able to largely recover their original (first) shape by applying an appropriate stimulus. Materials that permit the fabrication of objects and devices that can (i) be provided in their permanent shape, (ii) be heated to a switching temperature above physiological temperature, at which the material becomes shapeable, (iii) be inserted into the body or placed in contact with the body and be deformed or shaped”to assume a desired temporary shape, (iv) be fixed in the desired temporary shape by keeping the material/device/object at body temperature (about 37° C.) for a convenient period of time, (v) largely retain this temporary shape if removed from the body, and (vi) return largely to their original shape when heated again above the switching temperature. A process for making such materials and disclosed products based on such materials are disclosed.

Systems and methods are disclosed for avoidance of user discomfort due to pressure differences by vent valve. In one embodiment, a method for equalizing air pressure in ear canal includes sensing a pressure difference between a pressure in ear canal (P.sub.EC) and an ambient pressure (P.sub.AMB) by a sensor of a hearing device. Based on sensing the pressure difference, an active valve is set to a first position to open a vent through the hearing device or to a second position to close the vent through the hearing device.

A personal audio device (e.g., headphones, earphones) can have an earpiece (e.g., an ear cup or earbud) with a removable cushioning member (e.g., headphone cushions or ear tips for earbuds). The cushioning member can include an identification tag that encodes identification data for the cushioning member. When the cushioning member is attached to the earpiece, the identification tag is brought into proximity with a tag sensor in the earpiece and the earpiece can read the identification tag to determine identification data for the cushioning member. The identification data can be used to modify a behavior of the earpiece and/or of a host device communicably coupled to the earpiece.

An earpiece body with a convoluted acoustic horn and a hearing protection device that includes the earpiece body. The convoluted acoustic horn that is configured to receive airborne sound waves through a first, sound-receiving opening and to emit airborne sound waves through a second, sound-emitting opening, wherein the first, sound-receiving opening is larger in cross-sectional area than the second, sound-emitting opening.

A method of estimating a real-ear-to-coupler-difference (RECD) in a hearing is provided. The hearing aid comprises an input transducer; an output transducer; and an ITE-part configured to define a residual volume when mounted in an ear canal of a user. The method comprises providing an earpiece configured to fit tightly to walls of an ear canal of the user and to provide said residual volume; that the earpiece comprises at least one ventilation channel or opening; a sound outlet allowing sound from said output transducer to be played into said residual volume; characteristics of the at least one ventilation channel or opening; a frequency dependent feedback path estimate from said output transducer to said input transducer through said ventilation channel or opening; and estimating a low-frequency and high frequency RECD values in dependence said feedback path estimate; and determining estimated frequency dependent RECD values in dependence of said estimated low-frequency RECD value, and said estimated high-frequency RECD value.

The present disclosure provides a wearable component. The wearable component includes a first carrier and a first electronic component at least partially embedded within the first carrier. The first carrier and the first electronic component define a space configured for audio transmission. An ear tip and a method of manufacturing a wearable component are also provided.