• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 2005

In this paper, we proposed a new hearing aid algorithm to improve SNR(signal to noise ratio) of noisy speech signal and speech perception. The proposed hearing aid algorithm is a multi-band loudness compensation based independent component analysis (ICA). The proposed algorithm was compared with a conventional spectral subtraction algorithm on behind-the-ear type hearing aid. The proposed algorithm successfully separated a target speech signal from background noise and from a mixture of the speech signals. The algorithms were compared each other by means of SNR. The average improvement of SNR by ICA based algorithm was 16.64dB, whereas spectral subtraction algorithm was 8.67dB. From the clinical tests, we concluded that our proposed algorithm would help hearing aid user to hear clearly a target speech in noisy conditions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.282-290
• /
• 2006

We have developed a multi band digital hearing aid algorithm emphasizing feedback cancellation and a hardware module to evaluate the performance of our algorithm. The hearing aids should be able to compensate for individual hearing loss characteristics of hearing impaired person. Thus hearing aids need the function of multi-bands amplification and the capabilities of feedback cancellation that can remove howling caused by acoustic feedback. In this paper, we proposed a digital hearing aid algorithm which has multi-bands compensation using modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) and can efficiently remove acoustic feedbacks. Moreover, we have developed digital hearing aid hardware module, which can evaluate hearing aid algorithms in real time operation. The developed algorithm and hardware module were verified through computer simulation and clinical tests. Through operational experiments, good performances in real time operation environment and an efficient howling cancellation were also observed. The developed hardware module can operate in stable condition and it is expected to become a good hardware platform for developing hearing aid algorithms.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.367-372
• /
• 2012

This paper introduces noise masking algorithm for 64 channel digital hearing aid. 125 Hz spectral resolution is maintained for 64 channels from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz. The same spectral masking processing effects as the cochlea are considered and applied for the present hearing aid noise reduction processing algorithm. Theoretical algorithm has been ported into assembler language program software and been embedded into a DSP IC chip for the digital hearing aid. Some parts of noise masking software program code are explained, and the results of the real-time noise reduction are verified by electro-acoustic measurements.

• 한국ITS학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.367-370
• /
• 2008

• 한국ITS학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.360-363
• /
• 2008

• Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 2018

Objectives. Two main digital signal processing technologies inside the modern hearing aid to provide the best conditions for hearing aid users are directionality (DIR) and digital noise reduction (DNR) algorithms. There are various possible settings for these algorithms. The present study evaluates the effects of various DIR and DNR conditions (both separately and in combination) on listening comfort among hearing aid users. Methods. In 18 participants who received hearing aid fitting services from the Rehabilitation School of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences regularly, we applied acceptable noise level (ANL) as our subjective measure of listening comfort. We evaluated both of these under six different hearing aid conditions: omnidirectional-baseline, omnidirectional-broadband DNR, omnidirectional-multichannel DNR, directional, directional-broadband DNR, and directional-multichannel DNR. Results. The ANL results ranged from -3 dB to 14 dB in all conditions. The results show, among all conditions, both the omnidirectional-baseline condition and the omnidirectional-broadband DNR condition are the worst conditions for listening in noise. The DIR always reduces the amount of noise that patients received during testing. The DNR algorithm does not improve listening in noise significantly when compared with the DIR algorithms. Although both DNR and DIR algorithms yielded a lower ANL, the DIR algorithm was more effective than the DNR. Conclusion. The DIR and DNR technologies provide listening comfort in the presence of noise. Thus, user benefit depends on how the digital signal processing settings inside the hearing aid are adjusted.

• Journal of IKEEE
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.62-71
• /
• 2009

In this study, we developed a wireless CROS(contralateral routing of signal) hearing aid for unilateral impaired people. CROS hearing aid takes sound from an ear with poorer hearing and transmit to another ear with better hearing. Generally, the self-voice delivered through the receiver of CROS hearing aid can be very loud. It is hard to perceive target speech because of loud self-voice. To compensate it, a self-voice suppression algorithm has been developed. we performed SDT(speech discrimination test) for evaluation of the self-voice suppression algorithm. One-syllable words was used as test speech and recorded with self-voice at a 1m distance. As the results, SDT score was improved about 11% when the self-voice suppression algorithm was processed. It is verified that the self-voice suppression algorithm helps speech perception at a time to communicate with others.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2016

In this paper, we implement the development platform of multichannel digital hearing aid algorithm using Simulink provided by Matlab. The digital hearing aids are considered medical devices designed to compensate for hearing loss, they need to be correctly selected, to help a person who has difficulty in hearing. The development platform that implemented in this paper, includes WOLA filterbank for analysis/synthesis of input signal, Wide dynamic range compression for hearing loss compensation and adaptive filter for feedback cancellation. Using the development platform, algorithm parameters for each block can be set depending on the hearing aid user. Thus it is possible to test the algorithm before the machine language. As a result, the time for algorithm development can be saved and performance and computational complexity can be optimized.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.102-110
• /
• 2017

In this paper, we have implemented an real-time adaptive feedback cancellation(AFC) algorithm that can be applied to multi-channel digital hearing aid. Multichannel digital hearing aid typically use the FFT filterbank based Wide Dynamic Range Compression(WDRC) algorithm to compensate for hearing loss. The implemented real-time acoustic feedback cancellation algorithm has one integrated structure using the same FFT filter bank with WDRC, which can be beneficial in terms of computation affecting the hearing aid battery life. In addition, when the AFC fails to operate due to nonlinear input and output, the reduction gain is applied to improve robustness in practical environment. The implemented algorithm can be further improved by adding various signal processing algorithm such as speech enhancement.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2004

In this study, we proposed an adaptive feedback cancellation algorithm for multi-band digital healing aids. The adaptive feedback canceller (AFC) is composed of an adaptive notch filter (ANF) for feedback detection and an NLMS (normalized least mean square) adaptive filter for feedback cancellation. The proposed feedback cancellation algorithm is combined with a multi-band hearing aid algorithm which employs the MDCT (modified discrete cosine transform) filter bank for the frequency-dependent compensation of hearing losses. The proposed algorithm together with the MDCT-based multi-channel hearing aid algorithm has been evaluated via computer simulations and it has also been implemented on a commercialized DSP board for real-time verifications.