Patent ID: 8472634
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A hearing aid for improving perception of sound by a person, the hearing aid comprising: a housing configured to be worn on or in an ear of the person; an audio output section disposed in the housing for generating a number of testing sounds at a corresponding number of testing frequencies and for providing each testing sound to the person; a volume control disposed on the housing for adjusting the amplitude of each testing sound to a level of audibility just above the person's threshold of hearing at the corresponding testing frequency; a switching device disposed on the housing for generating a control signal when the switching device is operated by the person, wherein the person operates the switching device when the amplitude of a testing sound is set to a level of audibility just above the person's threshold of hearing at the corresponding testing frequency; and a processor disposed in the housing for setting a plurality of threshold hearing levels based on the control signal generated by operation of the switching device, each threshold hearing level associated with a corresponding one of the testing frequencies, the threshold hearing levels collectively defining an amplitude-versus-frequency profile which the processor applies in processing digital audio signals during use of the hearing aid to improve the perception of sound.