One-size-fits-most hearing aid

A hearing-aid device comprising a housing and circuitry module, wherein the circuitry module comprises a battery, a microphone, and a receiver, and the circuit module is inserted in the hearing aid housing. The hearing aid device further comprises a retractable battery sleeve, wherein a battery slot is exposed when the battery sleeve is retracted, and a battery can be inserted into the battery slot from either side of the battery slot with either polarity. The hearing aid housing may comprise an ear-tip, wherein a microphone is mounted in the hearing aid housing near the ear-tip and the microphone receives sounds through at least one sound inlet located on a side surface of the hearing aid housing. The ear-tip additionally comprises three flanges decreasing in size toward the flange closest to the ear canal, and the hearing aid can be inserted into the ear canal in any orientation.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While affluent consumers with mild hearing loss can readily obtain professionally fitted binaural hearing aids for a high cost, that high cost is out of the question for the 20-40% of those who may need hearing aids but cannot afford them.FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary high-cost custom-made hearing aid10that provides good performance during constant use. The conventional in-the-ear hearing aid10may comprise a battery drawer14, which swings out to accept a battery (not shown). The battery must be oriented properly before insertion to prevent wedging the battery in backwards or causing damage to the hearing aid. Microphone inlet12and volume control16are standard features on such hearing aids. Ear-tip18is custom molded to fit an individual's ear, so that the hearing aid must be oriented properly for insertion in the ear in order to avoid discomfort and obtain a good seal to the ear. When properly oriented and inserted, the snug fit of the ear-tip in the ear canal provides a good seal and prevents uncomfortable feedback of sounds.

Low-cost mail-ordered or over-the-counter hearing aids (such as “Hunter's aids” at sporting-goods stores) are available for a low cost compared to the professionally fitted binaural hearing aids. However, these lower cost hearing aids have certain disadvantages. For example, some of the low-cost hearing aids utilize ear-tips that fit only a fraction of the population, causing feedback whistling or discomfort for many of those who try them. Other low-cost hearing aids utilize ear-tips that may seal well if the correct one of multiple sizes is chosen, but are not cleanable and thus must be replaced regularly. Most of these low-cost hearing aids have high distortion and generally poor sound quality. Additionally, most low-cost hearing aids lack automatic wide-dynamic-range-compression amplification such as that found in the high-quality hearing aids designed for constant use, automatically adjusting the gain and frequency response so that quiet sounds are made audible while loud sounds are not uncomfortably amplified.

FIG. 2Aillustrates an exemplary low-cost hearing aid20available on the market. This hearing aid20has an advanced volume control. However, an uncomfortable feedback noise typically sets in before adequate gain is obtained, rendering this type of hearing aid of marginal or no benefit to the user. In this hearing aid20, the battery may be replaced by unscrewing battery cap24and inserting a new battery. For the hearing aid20to function, proper battery orientation must be maintained. Hearing aid20must be properly oriented to fit in the ear. Single-flange ear-tip28provides a seal to some ears, but internal feedback on many of these hearing aids results in a whistling noise at low volume control settings, which makes the seal to the ear irrelevant. The hearing aid20also comprises microphone inlet22and volume control26. This hearing aid is not designed to an individual's ear, but is instead intended to fit most users.

FIG. 2Billustrates another exemplary low-cost hearing aid25for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, available for purchase in non-medical environments. Hearing aid25may be worn as required, and not necessarily all the time. This hearing aid can be fitted at the time of purchase using a system such as, for example, Microsound's Eartuner interactive fitting system. This hearing aid is also not designed to an individual's ear, but is instead intended to fit most users. Hearing aid20must be properly oriented to fit in the ear.

FIG. 3illustrates another exemplary low-cost hearing aid30, intended to fit most users. The hearing aid30is a sophisticated one-size-fits most hearing aid. This hearing aid may contain high-quality amplification. Hearing aid30may comprise a microphone inlet32, a battery drawer34, and volume control36. Ear-tip38has been statistically chosen to provide comfortable fit to a large number of persons when properly oriented in the ear. In this design, only low-gain amplification is usually possible because of a lack of custom fit of the ear-tip to the ear, which results in a lack of complete seal. As with the custom hearing aid10ofFIG. 1, the battery in hearing aid30must be properly oriented before insertion to prevent wedging the battery in backwards, which may result in damaging the hearing aid. Hearing aid30must also be properly oriented to fit properly in the ear canal. Variations on hearing aid30are now available in which a choice of several foam ear-tips may be snapped onto a molded tip of ear-tip38. When the proper size is chosen, hearing aid30can provide a good seal and good comfort for the user. Such foam ear-tips must be replaced at regular intervals, the battery must be properly oriented, and the hearing aid must still be properly oriented to fit in the ear.

Existing hearing aids are designed in irregular shapes that may approximate the shape of the ear, but are difficult for many purchasers to insert because the hearing aid must be orientated properly to be inserted comfortably and to work properly. Furthermore, existing hearing aids have battery drawers that may be difficult for certain persons to manipulate, and that require the battery to be inserted with the proper polarity, which may be a daunting task for persons whose vision and possibly sense of feel have been impaired with age or illness.

Another prior art alternative may be the Songbird disposable hearing aid, which is a low-cost hearing aid and has at least a few of the problems discussed hereinabove. The Songbird hearing aid has been compared favorably with a well-known high-performance two-channel analog hearing aid and two well-known digital hearing aids. However, the problem with the Songbird hearing aid is that because it is disposable, the annual cost of purchasing a pair of aids each month is substantially less than the cost of most professionally-dispensed hearing aids, but still out of reach of many persons in lower-income brackets.

Simplified, mass-produced, in-the-canal hearing aids currently exist (U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,688, filed May 27, 1986) and may be produced in large quantities to fit most hearing aid users, thus eliminating a need for production of hearing aids produced to fit only the one individual's ear. There are at least several disadvantages associated with this device. For example, even though the hearing aids are mass-produced, thus requiring no need for producing an individualized fit for each patient and possibly lowering the cost of production and the cost of the device, the components are selected by the patient to fit their individual hearing needs. This requires the patient to visit a specialist, which may possible increase the over-all cost of getting the hearing aid device. In addition, the design of the hearing aid shell is such that it only fits in the ear canal if oriented in a certain direction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may be seen in an in the ear hearing aid device that does not require specific orientation of insertion in a user's ear canal to function effectively. The hearing aid device may comprise a hearing aid housing and a circuit module.

In an embodiment of the presenting invention, the circuit module may comprise a battery, a microphone, and a receiver, wherein the circuit module is inserted in the hearing aid housing. The circuit module may alone provide hearing aid functionality without additional wiring and set up with the hearing aid housing. The circuit module may further comprise an amplifier. The circuit module may also comprise a switch, wherein the switch may be an on-off switch and/or a gain-control switch.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit module may further comprise a circuit board, wherein the microphone and the receiver are on opposite sides of the circuit board.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid housing may be essentially symmetrical and may have at least a cylindrical portion. The hearing aid housing may further comprise an ear-tip, wherein the microphone may be mounted in the hearing aid housing near the ear-tip and the microphone receives sounds through at least one sound inlet located on a side surface of the hearing aid housing. The ear-tip may comprise three flanges decreasing in size toward the flange closest to the ear canal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid device may also comprise a retractable battery sleeve, wherein a battery slot is exposed when the battery sleeve is retracted, and a battery can be inserted into the battery slot from either side of the battery slot. In an embodiment, the battery can be inserted into the battery slot with either polarity. Additionally, the battery can be inserted in the battery slot to replace an old battery, while the old battery is still in the battery slot, and inserting a battery in the battery slot causes the old battery to be displaced without having to first separately displace the old battery.

In an embodiment of the present invention, inserting the battery in the battery slot may make the hearing aid operable, without requiring any further assembly.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the present invention, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hearing aids and especially to a lower-cost/high-quality hearing aids intended for occasional use. An embodiment of the present invention is particularly directed to hearing aids that may be purchased either from a professional or over the counter at pharmacies and retail stores.

The present invention relates generally to low-cost hearing aids, and specifically to hearing aids available for purchase over-the-counter in non-medical environments. Furthermore, the present invention relates to hearing aids designed such that they are one-size-fits-most hearing aids.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary one-size-fits-most hearing aid100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid100may comprise a triple-flange ear-tip180attached to a cylindrical housing containing a replaceable battery, a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver to reproduce the amplified sound, and a switch.

In an embodiment of the present invention, hearing aid100may have a generally cylindrical shape. A battery sleeve140and main body or housing130may also be cylindrical. Ear-tip180may have rotational symmetry around its axis and the axis of the hearing aid100. In particular, ear-tip flanges184,185, and186and ear-tip stem182may all be generally round. The use of the three ear-tip flanges184,185, and186may increase the percentage of persons who can obtain a good comfortable seal in the ear canal. The ear-tip flanges184,185, and186are in a decreasing size, whereas the smallest flange186is closest to the tip of the hearing aid100, and the largest flange184is farthest away from the tip of the hearing aid100. Consequentially, if the smallest flange184does not seal the ear canal well, the slightly larger flange185may do so, and if the flange185also does not completely seal the ear canal, the largest flange186may do so, thus ensuring a comfortable and good seal of the ear canal for a larger number of users than if one flange were used. In an embodiment of the present invention, the ear tip180may be similar to the ear tip available in high-fidelity earplugs such as, for example, the high-fidelity earplugs disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,683, filed Jan. 27, 1988, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,967, filed May 7, 1990, and high-fidelity insert earphones such as, for example, the high-fidelity insert earphones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,070, filed Dec. 19, 1996. Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,683, filed Jan. 27, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,967, filed May 7, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,070, filed Dec. 19, 1996, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Ensuring a good seal to the ear canal for a hearing aid generally provides a good performance, because, for example, it prevents unwanted audio feedback of sounds, which may interfere with the sounds coming into the hearing aid.

FIG. 5illustrates an exemplary view of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 4with the battery sleeve140retracted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, when the battery sleeve140is retracted and the battery slot142is exposed, a battery144may be inserted from either side of the battery slot142and the battery may be inserted with either polarity. In an embodiment of the present invention, once the battery is inserted, the hearing aid100may become functional regardless of whether the battery sleeve140is in a closed or open position. Using a retractable battery sleeve140that accepts a battery144from either side with either polarity at insertion may require less dexterity from a user, which may provide an easier operation of the hearing aid100. The design of the retractable sleeve140may allow any user to be able to retract the sleeve for battery replacement regardless of, for example, motor ability, vision, etc. Additionally, the design of the retractable battery sleeve140, which may ensure that the hearing aid100operates upon insertion of a battery144, even if the retractable battery sleeve140remains retracted, ensures that a user may be capable of enjoying the functionality of the hearing aid100even if the user forgets to reposition the battery sleeve140to a closed position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, hearing aid100may also comprise a switch204, which may be a multi-position switch that functions as an on-off switch. In an embodiment of the present invention, the switch204may function as a volume control. In an embodiment of the present invention, the switch204may function as both an on-off switch and a volume control.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary view of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 4with the ear-tip180removed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid100may comprise a stem190containing replaceable acoustic damper assembly191. The replaceable acoustic damper assembly191may comprise an acoustic damper194as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,295, filed Jan. 23, 2001. Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,295, filed Jan. 23, 2001, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid100may also comprise a wax guard222, which may be added to the ear-tip180.

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary exploded view of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hearing aid100may comprise an electro-acoustic subassembly or module150, which may contain a microphone152. Sounds may be received by the microphone152, through sound inlet135. Sound inlet135may be located on a side surface (e.g., surface121) of the main body or housing130, rather than on an end or faceplate type surface (e.g., surface145). The hearing aid100may have one or more sound inlet135to ensure that sounds may be received by the microphone regardless of the orientation by which the hearing aid is inserted in the ear. The microphone152may then provide an electrical signal to amplifier156mounted on flexible circuits161and163. In an embodiment of the present invention, the microphone152may be mounted near the ear-tip attachment so that it may pick up the naturally amplified sound of the ear and cochlea. In an embodiment of the present invention, the amplifier156may be a wide-dynamic-compression high-fidelity amplifier such as, for example, the K-AMP™ wide-dynamic-range compressor circuit described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,046, filed Nov. 3, 1989, incorporated into an integrated circuit that may include a new integrated circuit Class B amplifier. Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,046, filed Nov. 3, 1989, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A high-fidelity amplifier such as, for example, the K-AMP™ amplifier may provide no gain for high-level inputs, more gain for moderate-level inputs, and the greatest amount of gain for low-level inputs. The K-AMP™ amplifier may also include frequency-dependent compression, such that for low-level inputs, high frequency sounds may be amplified more than low-frequency sounds.

Such an amplifier may eliminate the need for a separate amplifier, which may be otherwise required to maintain high sound quality and low distortion at high levels, and may provide acceptable battery drain. The electrical output of amplifier156may be connected to a receiver154through the circuit161. The receiver154may provide amplified sound through the stem190and the ear-tip180to the ear of the user. Plots illustrating the performance of a high-fidelity amplifier such as, for example, the K-AMP™ amplifier are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,720, filed Mar. 3, 1978, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIG. 14illustrates a plot of the frequency response simulation of an exemplary high-fidelity amplifier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The plot ofFIG. 14shows the frequency response for inputs at 60 dB, 70 dB, and 90 dB, illustrating that as the input sound gets quieter, the output gain increases.

FIG. 15illustrates a plot of an actual frequency response of an exemplary high-fidelity amplifier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The curves401,403,405, and407correspond to inputs at 60 dB, 70 dB, 80 dB, and 90 dB, respectively. The curves ofFIG. 15illustrate the same result as the simulated curve ofFIG. 14, that is, as the input sound gets quieter, the output gain increases.

FIG. 16illustrates a plot of an actual composite input/output curve of an exemplary high-fidelity amplifier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 16illustrates, as illustrated byFIG. 14andFIG. 15, the output gain increases as the input sound gets quieter. For example, an input at 50 dB may correspond to an output at or around 60 dB, whereas, an input at 90 dB may correspond to an output at or around 90 dB.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the gain in the hearing aid100may take on one of three values corresponding to a selection made by the user of the hearing aid100. One selection may be for essentially an off position, which may be equivalent to turning the hearing aid device100off. A second selection may be a standard gain position where a wide-dynamic-compression high-fidelity amplifier such as, for example the K-AMP™ wide-dynamic-range compressor circuit may be used. At the standard gain position, there may be no gain and no loss when there are loud sounds and noises in the environment surrounding the user; hence, inputting the loud sounds and noises as is into the user's ear. Additionally, at the standard gain position, amplification may be provided when the sounds in the environment surrounding the user are soft. A third selection may be a high gain position, which may be selected to accommodate users with greater hearing loss. At the high gain position, all sounds may be amplified, thus have positive gain, even when they are initially loud. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid device100may provide more or less gain selections to accommodate several level of hearing loss severity.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery slot142may allow the battery to be inserted properly regardless of orientation. Battery contacts146and148may be connected to a flex-strip165and printed circuit disk202and to circuit158, which may automatically switch the polarity of the battery connections as necessitated by the circuitry of the hearing aid100. Circuit158may be an automatic polarity switching circuit such as, for example, the automatic polarity switching circuit of U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,550, filed Mar. 9, 1995. Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,550, filed Mar. 9, 1995 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As a result, a user of the hearing aid100need not be concerned with battery polarity, since the circuit158provides proper polarity to circuit156in either case.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit158may not be utilized, and hence may not provide an automatic polarity switching circuitry. In such an embodiment, the battery slot142may have an irregular shape corresponding to the external shape of the battery such that the battery may fit into the battery slot142only when the battery is inserted with the correct orientation. As a result, the shape of the battery slot142may ensure correct polarity of the battery.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery sleeve140may have an end or faceplate surface145having an opening143located at or on an end outer surface of the hearing aid100. Opening143may allow a lever206of the switch204to be activated when the battery sleeve140is in the normal closed position as shown inFIG. 4.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the replaceable acoustic damper assembly191may include the acoustic damper194, and an acoustic damper housing192, which may be molded to be a snug press fit into the stem190of the hearing aid100. The acoustic damper194may provide a smoother frequency response in the hearing aid100and may also prevent wax from reaching the receiver154.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for ease of assembly, rectangular hole138and pawl137may be molded in halves134and132, respectively, of the main body130. Thus, during assembly, the housing halves134and132may snap together and enclose electro-acoustic subassembly or module150. The battery sleeve140may have a lip141, which may be molded to snap over sides139of portion134of the main body130of the hearing aid100. The sides139form the battery slot142, which may be designed to accept a battery equally well from either side. Thus the battery144may be inserted in any one of the four possible ways and the hearing aid100will still function properly.

FIG. 8illustrates another exemplary view of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 4with the ear-tip removed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid100may comprise a stem290containing replaceable acoustic damper assembly291. The replaceable acoustic damper assembly291may contain an acoustic damper294. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid100may also comprise a wax guard322, which may be added to an ear-tip280.

FIG. 9illustrates an exemplary exploded view of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hearing aid100may comprise an electro-acoustic subassembly or module250, which may contain a microphone252. Sounds may be received by the microphone252, through one or more sound inlet in the hearing aid main body or housing230. The microphone252may then provide an electrical signal to amplifier256mounted on flexible circuits261and263. In an embodiment of the present invention, the microphone252may be mounted near the ear-tip attachment so that it may pick up the naturally amplified sound of the ear and cochlea, which may not be possible were the microphone placed on an end or faceplate type surface such as, for example, surface245. In an embodiment of the present invention, the amplifier256may be a wide-dynamic-compression high-fidelity amplifier. The electrical output of amplifier256may be connected to a receiver254through the circuit261. The receiver254may provide amplified sound through the stem290and the ear-tip280to the ear of the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery slot242allows the battery to be inserted properly regardless of orientation. Battery contacts246and248may be connected to a flex-strip265and printed circuit disk302and to circuit258, which may automatically switch the polarity of the battery connections as necessitated by the circuitry of the hearing aid100. As a result, a user of the hearing aid100need not be concerned with battery polarity, since the circuit258provides proper polarity to circuit256in either case.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery sleeve240may have an end or faceplate surface245having an opening243located at or on an end outer surface of the hearing aid100. Opening243may allow a lever306of the switch304to be activated when the battery sleeve240is in the normal closed position as shown inFIG. 4.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the replaceable acoustic damper assembly291may include the acoustic damper294, and an acoustic damper housing292, which may be molded to be a snug press fit into the stem290of the hearing aid100. The acoustic damper294may provide a smoother frequency response in the hearing aid100and may also prevent wax from reaching the receiver254.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for ease of assembly, the battery sleeve240may have a lip241, which may be molded to snap over sides239of the main body or housing230of the hearing aid100. The sides239form the battery slot242, which may be designed to accept a battery equally well from either side. Thus the battery244may be inserted in any of four possible ways and the hearing aid100will function properly. In addition, during assembly, electro-acoustic subassembly or module250simply slides into an open end of hearing aid main body or housing230. In this embodiment and that ofFIG. 7, due to the symmetric design of the hearing aid main body or housing230/130, the electro-acoustic subassembly of module250/150need not be inserted in a particular orientation. The functionality of the electro-acoustic subassembly250/150may be independent of its orientation due to, for example, the symmetry of the housing230/130and the symmetry of the subassembly250/150, and more specifically the microphone252/152.

FIG. 10andFIG. 11illustrate exemplary side views of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 4with the battery sleeve140closed and retracted, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The battery sleeve140may be closed as inFIG. 10, and in such an embodiment the hearing aid100may be worn by the user. When, for example, the user may want to replace the battery144, the battery sleeve140may be retracted, and the battery slot142may be exposed (as illustrated byFIG. 11) and the battery144may be removed and replaced. The battery slot142may be defined by the sides139, which may be attached to the hearing aid main body or housing130. In embodiments of the present invention, an old battery144need not be removed, instead a new battery may replace the old battery by simply inserting the new battery into the battery slot in any of the four possible positions, and doing so forces the old battery to be disposed of automatically from the other side.

FIG. 12andFIG. 13illustrate an exemplary exploded and side view, respectively, of the circuit subassembly or module150of the hearing aid100ofFIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the microphone152and the receiver154may be mounted on opposite sides of the circuit161. In such an embodiment the microphone152and the receiver154may be connected through the circuit161. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microphone152and the receiver154may be mounted on the same side of the circuit161. In such an embodiment the microphone152and the receiver154may be connected directly or through the circuit161.

The subassembly or module150with a battery inserted between battery contacts146and148, comprises a complete hearing aid and may provide a hearing aid functionality by itself, regardless of housing. In embodiments of the present invention, the subassembly or module150may be inserted, with a battery, into a housing to provide hearing aid functionality without requiring any additional wiring or other set up.

In embodiments of the present invention, the hearing aid100may provide a smooth, high-fidelity frequency response. The hearing aid100may also provide a wide-dynamic-range compression amplification, in addition to a good seal to the ear that is adequately comfortable for occasional use. The battery insertion into the hearing aid100may not require too much dexterity since either orientation and either insertion direction of a battery into the battery slot will be acceptable. Thus, hearing aid100may require very little, if any, training to get proper functionality.

In embodiments of the present invention, the hearing aid100may provide a high-quality hearing aid for a user by having the frequency response and gain automatically adapted as a function of the level of the incoming signals. As a result, the hearing aid100may be adequate for occasional use for the majority of persons with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

The hearing aid100may also be cylindrical in shape such that insertion into the ear only requires that the orientation of the hearing aid100be such that the soft ear-tip180is inserted toward the ear. No other specific orientation by the user is required before insertion into the ear, because of, for example, the symmetrical shape of the housing of the hearing aid. This aspect of the present invention may be of particular benefit to users who may have difficulty with hand dexterity or poor vision, for example.

In embodiments of the present invention, the battery of the hearing aid100may be replaced by inserting a new battery into either opening of a battery slot, in either orientation, wherein the spent battery is automatically and simultaneously ejected from the opposite opening and discarded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the wide-dynamic-compression high-fidelity amplifier156may be incorporated into an integrated circuit that includes a new integrated circuit amplifier, which eliminates the need for a separate amplifier that would otherwise be required in order to maintain high sound quality and low distortion at high levels with acceptable battery drain.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circuitry of the hearing aid100may operate without high power consumption, thus elongating the lifecycle of a battery.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ear-tip of the hearing-aid device may be made with flexible material such that when inserted in the ear canal of a user of the hearing aid, the ear-tip may conform to the shape of the user's ear canal to provide the highest seal and minimize feedback of noises and hence minimize distortion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the hearing-aid device may be small in size, such that it may fit in the user's ear without being uncomfortable or visible, but such that the user may still easily access the device and remove it. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hearing aid, while completely assembled and the battery slot covered, may be approximately 1.25 inches in length, and with the battery sleeve open and the battery slot completely exposed the hearing aid may be approximately 1.5 inches in length. The cylindrical portion of the body of the hearing-aid device may be approximately less than 0.5 inches in diameter, and the largest flange of the ear-tip may be approximately 0.5 inches in diameter. It should be understood that these dimensions are representative of one embodiment of the present invention, and the hearing-aid device of the present invention may have dimensions slightly variable from the ones disclosed hereinabove.