Patent ID: 7120258
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: A61B,H04R,H04S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for developing a binaural phase time delay profile (BPTD) of an individual, comprising: means for separating spoken words into high frequency and low frequency bands; means for delaying one of the bands relative to the other band; means for presenting the delayed band to one ear and the undelayed band to the other ear; means for measuring the individual's comprehension of the words at a variety of delays; means for determining the overall phase delay at which comprehension is optimal; means for providing a pure tone; means for dividing the pure tone into two channels; means for applying a phase shift to one of the channels; means for presenting the phase shifted channel to one ear, and the non-phase shifted channel to the other ear; means for varying the amplitude and the frequency of the tone; means for finding a threshold (lowest amplitude at which the tone is heard) for various frequency tones at various phase shifts; and means for assigning an optimal phase shift at the various frequency tones according to the lowest amplitude at which each tone is heard.