External ear insert for hearing comprehension enhancement

Abstract

A simple hearing enhancement device that takes the normally adequately loud sound levels and optimizes selective frequency gain of the patient's ear passage to improve speech comprehension.

Claims

1. A passive hearing enhancement device comprising an earpiece that is positioned and retained in an outer ear portion of a user's ear, and shaped to enhance speech and other high frequency sounds in combination with the auditory canal of the user while being positioned completely outside of the auditory canal such that it does not interfere with open ear canal hearing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of a man's face and head showing the external ear, with hearing enhancement device in place in the external portions of both ears.

(2) FIG. 1A is a pictorial view of the hearing enhancement device for the left ear.

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the human ear from the pinna into the auditory canal with a hearing enhancement device according to the invention in the outer ear at the entrance to the auditory canal.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the left ear showing the placement of the hearing enhancement device in the pinna.

(5) FIG. 3A is a side elevation similar to FIG. 3 which shows the hearing enhancement device coupled to a flexible tab that encapsulates a hearing aid electronic amplifier located behind the earlobe.

(6) FIG. 4 is a side view of the outer surface of a hearing enhancement device for the left ear according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 4A is a pictorial view of the hearing enhancement device for the left ear including a behind the earlobe electronic amplifier or wireless receiver for added selected frequency boost.

(8) FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the behind the earlobe encapsulated electronic amplifier showing the side opposite that shown in FIG. 4, in which the gain adjustment and battery compartment cover in the flexible leg connected to the hearing enhancement device are visible.

(9) Like parts are given the same reference numeral in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows the front view of a man's face and head. Here, earpieces 1 which comprise the hearing enhancement devices according to the invention are positioned in the external portions of both ears 3. As may best be seen in FIGS. 1A, 2, 3, and 4, earpiece 1 is a scoop-like structure having variable three-dimensional curvature in a horizontal plane typified by line 6-6 in FIG. 4, in a vertical plane typified by line 7-7 in FIG. 4, and in the plane of the drawings. As will be appreciated, the earpiece for the left ear has been illustrated. The right earpiece is the mirror image of the left earpiece.

(11) Ear pieces 1 are formed of any suitable or desired plastic material, preferably one which can be made transparent (clear or flesh-toned) and flexible to the desired extent, such as silicone rubber or the like.

(12) Earpiece 1 includes a forwardly facing concave surface 40, and a rearwardly facing convex surface 42, the front edges of which are delimited by forwardly facing edge 11, and outer marginal portions 10 around the outside which is captured by the outer ear cartilage ridge 3A (antihelix). These converge at the bottom end of the earpiece to form a lower tip 44, and also converge at the top where they merge into an upper lug 5. Convex surface 42 is shaped to fit outwardly of the auditory meatus 2 (the opening of the auditory passage) in the concha against the cartilaginous antihelix 3A. Earpiece 1 is held in place by its inherent resiliency, and by lower tip 44 which engages with the lower end 3B of antihelix 3A, and by lug 5 which engages behind the upper end of outer ridge (helix) 46 in a cavity 5. Typically, marginal portion 10 will project slightly beyond antihelix 3A, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. Edge 11 may also project beyond antihelix 3A as well.

(13) As discussed below, it is believed that the curvature and linear dimensions of earpiece 1 provide the high frequency hearing enhancement characteristic of this invention by changing the resonant characteristics of the auditory meatus and outer auditory passage 2. The high frequency enhancement provided by the geometry of earpiece 1 may be entirely sufficient to overcome the hearing deficits of many users under most circumstances. However, if additional enhancement is desired, earpiece 1 can be coupled with an electronic amplifier.

(14) FIG. 3A shown how an amplifier unit 20 can be combined with earpiece 1 to form a composite hearing enhancement device 30. A flexible finger 22 attached to the lower end of marginal portion 10 at 9 extends downwardly along ear lobe 8, then bends sidewardly (i.e., toward the upper end of the jaw bone) at its lower end 48, then upwardly again behind earlobe 8. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 5, finger 22 terminates at amplifier unit 20 which is small enough to be substantially hidden behind the earlobe. Finger 22 may itself be sufficiently resilient to hold amplifier unit 20 in place, or may include an embedded resilient member (not shown) to provide the necessary support.

(15) Sound can be coupled from amplifier unit 20 to the auditory meatus 2 in any suitable or desired manner. For example, a transducer (not shown) at the lower end of amplifier housing 50 may be coupled through a passage 23 in flexible finger 22 which terminates in a fitting 24 which passes through opening 9 in earpiece margin 10. The connection between fitting 24 and opening 9 is preferably easily releasible (the connection being provided, for example, by making opening 9 slightly smaller than fitting 24 to take advantage of the resiliency of the earpiece material) so that earpiece 1 can be separated from amplifier unit 20 for cleaning, or when use of the amplifier is not desired or necessary. The sound from passage 23 can be distributed, rather than directed into the ear, by shaping the opening in marginal portion 10, for example, to provide a hollowed-out area around opening 9, if desired.

(16) Alternatively, the transducer my be embedded in the earpiece, and electrically connected to amplifier unit 20 by wires running through passage 23 terminating in a suitable plug connection.

(17) Any suitable commercially available programmable digital type hearing aid amplifier and can be used for this purpose.

(18) Amplifier unit 20 may advantageously be encapsulated with finger 22 as a single unit. As shown in FIG. 5, suitable controls 21 for amplifier unit 20 may be provided in an easily accessible position on the rearwardly facing surface, and a compartment 26 for a suitable battery my be provided in any convenient location.

(19) It has been found that earpiece 1 can be properly sized and shaped to modify the natural resonant characteristics of the users' open auditory canal. In this manner, substantial amplitude gain for higher frequencies at the tympanic membrane can be provided without amplification. This results in improved hearing in general, and in particular, better speech comprehension.

(20) Specifically, by widening or narrowing opening 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) along the side of the head, and the length of edge 11 along the head in conjunction with the shape of the earpiece, sound level gain can be provided in auditory canal for the desired frequencies. The distance from marginal portion 10 forward to the auditory canal can be used in conjunction with the curvature of concave surface 40, to broaden or narrow the resonant peak. Both parameters can obviously adjusted in a single device to meet the specific needs of a user.

(21) Alternatively, it appears that a plurality of standardized shapes may be provided in different sizes for large and small ears. Earpieces can designed for frequency gain response at selected frequencies within the lower end of the upper audio spectrum (e.g., approximately 4000-6000 Hz) and for broad or narrow peaking at selected frequencies such as around 4000, 5000, or 6000 Hz. Narrower adjustment (fine tuning) can be obtained by providing either standardized or custom-made inserts for use in conjunction with the standardized earpieces and/or by selective amplification.

(22) Use of standardized earpieces is presently preferred, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, since this simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacture, and allows the user to be fitted without having to wait for a custom part to be fabricated.

(23) Auditory canal gain over selected frequency ranges as high as 30 db can be achieved in contrast to 20-30 db attenuation (loss) resulting from insertion of conventional hearing devices into the auditory canal. Since amplification just to overcome that attenuation is not needed, amplification, if needed at all, need only be provided at the higher frequencies, and then, with substantially reduced gain. This, in turn, lessens or avoids the sensitivity to feedback.

(24) In particular, if 10-30 db gain can be obtained by tuning the auditory canal in combination with the earpiece, providing an additional 10-20 db of gain through amplification at selected higher frequencies gives the user a total effective gain of 30-60 db at the ear drum without having to seal the speaker element into the auditory canal. The auditory canal is therefore open to the outside world for more normal hearing of most of the sounds with better speech comprehension.

(25) Since feedback at gain levels below 30 db can be tolerated due to the absorption of surroundings, the limited amplification required substantially eliminates the problem of feedback encountered when the transducer unit is not sealed in the auditory canal.

(26) It has also been found that the earpiece tends to shield the auditory canal from side and back noises to provide better signal to noise characteristic from the front i.e., in the direction the user is looking. This tends to further enhance speech comprehension.

(27) Existing extremely small digital amplifiers can be used which provide multiple adjustable frequency gains to further match the user's hearing loss with reduced amplifier power requirements. An attractive housing such as for an earring can be provided and can even be attached to the ear by a stud extending through a pierced ear lobe. A dummy housing can be provided where amplification is only needed for one ear.

(28) The present invention also comprehends a procedure for designing and optimizing the shape of the earpieces. This is accomplished by placing a very small microphone 1 or 2 millimeters in the auditory canal near the eardrum and then measuring the received signal level of sound amplitude received for various frequencies of sound from a speaker transducer located outside of the ear.

(29) The sound level gain for each frequency can be measured in the auditory canal and the shape of the earpiece adjusted to maximize the sound level gain at the frequencies that give the user the best hearing comprehension of words when tested at various sound levels. Average data can thus be obtained and used to design standardized earpieces with resonance peaks and shapes that can provide best fit on a statistical basis for most users. Tuning for specific user's needs can be provided by standardized or customized inserts for use with the standardized earpieces or by selective amplification.

(30) Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but is to be given the full scope indicated by the appended claims.