Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to the inclusion of amplitude compression inside a hearing aid remote microphone or audio streaming device. Compressor design is improved by using one local and one remote compressor operating in parallel. The subject matter will reference remote microphones as the primary use case. In one embodiment, hearing aid microphone audio and remote microphone audio are treated as two separate streams within the hearing aid, assigning each to a compressor and mixing the audio streams afterward. In another embodiment, a compressor is developed for the remote microphone to offload that portion of the signal processing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This patent application pertains to apparatus and processes for avoidance of cross-modulation in hearing assistance devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern hearing assistance devices typically include digital electronics to enhance the wearer&#39;s experience. Whether due to a conduction deficit or sensorineural damage, hearing loss in most patients occurs non-uniformly over the audio frequency range, most commonly at high frequencies. Hearing aids may be designed to compensate for such hearing deficits by amplifying received sound in a frequency-specific manner, thus acting as a kind of acoustic equalizer that compensates for the abnormal frequency response of the impaired ear. Adjusting a hearing aid&#39;s frequency-specific amplification characteristics to achieve a desired level of compensation for an individual patient is referred to as fitting the hearing aid. One common way of fitting a hearing aid is to measure hearing loss, apply a fitting algorithm, and fine-tune the hearing aid parameters. 
     Hearing assistance devices also use a dynamic range adjustment, called dynamic range compression, which controls the level of sound sent to the ear of the patient to normalize the loudness of sound in specific frequency regions. The gain that is provided at a given frequency is controlled by the level of sound in that frequency region (the amount of frequency specificity is determined by the filters in the multiband compression design). When properly used, compression adjusts the level of a sound at a given frequency such that its loudness is similar to that for a normal hearing person without a hearing aid. There are other fitting philosophies, but they all prescribe a certain gain for a certain input level at each frequency. It is well known that the application of the prescribed gain for a given input level is affected by time constants of the compressor. What is less well understood is that the prescription can break down when there are two or more simultaneous sounds in the same frequency region. The two sounds may be at two different levels, and therefore each should receive different gain for each to be perceived at their own necessary loudness. Because only one gain value can be prescribed by the hearing aid, however, at most one sound can receive the appropriate gain, providing the second sound with the less than desired sound level and resulting loudness. 
     Current hearing aid designs employ digital signal processors rich in features. The operation and maintenance of wireless hearing aids may be improved or simplified by improving the wireless communication components within the hearing aid. Some wireless hearing aids have sought to improve wireless performance by using various wireless protocols, error concealment, or data encoding within a radio frequency (RF) band to improve link quality. However, these solutions have been limited by RF congestion within an RF band, causing lower data rates and unreliable communication. The use of multiple RF bands (e.g., multi-band operation) may be complicated by the various frequencies available in different countries. Additionally, the amount of absorption of radio signals in typical user environments changes significantly with frequency of the signals. Furthermore, communications at different frequencies can require substantially different electronics in various cases. 
     What is needed in the art is an improved method of wireless communications between hearing assistance devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids, and in particular to avoidance of cross-modulation in hearing assistance devices. 
     This application proposes the inclusion of amplitude compression inside a hearing aid remote microphone or audio streaming device. The compressor design is improved by using one local and one remote compressor operating in parallel. The subject matter will reference remote microphones as the primary use case. 
     In current applications, the hearing aid compressor acts on both the hearing aid microphone input and the audio that is wirelessly streamed from a remote microphone to an intermediate hearing accessory device or to a hearing aid. It is the case that the louder of the two audio streams will dominate the level estimate at the compressor, which may cause the hearing aid to assign gains that may not be appropriate for the lower level signal. Thus, the two signals are modulated as one, rather than being discretely analyzed and amplified. Audio input to a remote microphone will often be cleaner than that at the hearing aid microphone. Analysis and amplification of the cleaner speech signal may result in improved speech audibility and understanding in background noise. 
     There are at least two opportunities for implementation. The first would be to treat the hearing aid microphone audio and remote microphone audio as two separate streams within the hearing aid, assigning each to a compressor and mixing the audio streams afterward. A second application would be to develop a compressor for the remote microphone and offload that portion of the signal processing. In this second case, there would be a requirement for the hearing aid to transmit the hearing loss specific prescribed gains to the remote microphone. 
     This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and appended claims. The scope of the present application is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first example compressor design for avoidance of cross-modulation in remote microphones. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second example compressor design for avoidance of cross-modulation in remote microphones. 
         FIG. 3  shows a method of avoiding cross-modulation in remote microphones. 
         FIG. 4  shows a method of generating local and remote frequency band gains. 
         FIG. 5  shows a method of receiving and applying inputs to implement cross-modulation avoidance in remote microphones. 
         FIG. 6  shows a method of compensating for an unwanted noise using a remote microphone. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatuses for avoidance of cross-modulation in hearing assistance devices. 
     Various features arise from processing an audio signal at a remote device. When no processing occurs at a remote device, a transmitted audio signal may include the desired audio signal and unwanted noise. Many hearing assistance radios apply a form of compression to reduce processing and power consumption. When no processing occurs at a remote device, compressing the remote audio signal may include compressed, unwanted noise. Additionally, depending on the type of compression used, a desired audio signal may be compressed disproportionate to unwanted noise. By processing an audio signal at a remote device, the desired audio signal may be isolated or amplified, and unwanted noise may be attenuated. This may improve the audio clarity of the transmitted audio signal. Similarly, by reducing or removing unwanted noise or frequency bands, the RF radios may transmit the desired audio signal at reduced bit rate or using reduced power consumption. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first example compressor design for avoidance of cross-modulation in remote microphones. A sound may propagate from a sound source  105  to a remote device  110  and to a hearing aid  115 . The sound may be transduced into an audio signal by a remote device microphone  120  and by a hearing aid microphone  130 . The audio signal may be transmitted from the remote device RF radio  130  to the hearing aid RF radio  135 . The audio signal may be passed through one or more filters to separate the signal into various frequency components. For example, the audio signal may be passed through low-pass filters  140  and  145  to isolate lower frequencies within the audio signal. Similarly, the audio signal may be passed through high-pass filters  150  and  155  to isolate higher frequencies within the audio signal. The isolated lower frequencies may be passed through low-pass gain amplifiers  160  and  165 , and the isolated higher frequencies may be passed through high-pass gain amplifiers  170  and  175 . The filters and amplifiers may be implemented using separate hardware or software modules, or the filters and amplifiers may be implemented together within a hardware or software filterbank. The amplified signals may be combined at a signal adder  180  and output to a user through a speaker  185 . 
     Though  FIG. 1  depicts separate channels for the low-pass and high-pass filters and amplifiers, any number of frequency channels may be used. For example, multiple bandpass filters may be used to isolate various frequency bands, and each isolated frequency band may have a dedicated amplifier. Each filter may have an associated amplifier, where the associated amplifier amplifies the isolated frequency band according to the needs of the hearing aid user. For example, a user exhibiting hearing loss at speech frequencies may have a positive gain applied to the frequency band corresponding to speech frequencies, and may have a negative gain applied to frequency bands below and above speech frequencies. Though  FIG. 1  depicts an amplifier associated with each filter, multiple amplifiers may be used for a single filter, or multiple filters may pass signals through a single amplifier. For example, a single amplifier may be used to amplify multiple signals simultaneously, or multiple signals may be multiplexed through a single amplifier. 
       FIG. 2  shows a second example compressor design for avoidance of cross-modulation in remote microphones. A sound may propagate from a sound source  205  to a remote device  210  and to a hearing aid  215 . The sound may be transduced into an audio signal by a remote device microphone  220  and by a hearing aid microphone  230 . The audio signal may be passed through one or more filters to separate the signal into various frequency components. For example, the audio signal may be passed through low-pass filters  240  and  245  to isolate lower frequencies within the audio signal. Similarly, the audio signal may be passed through high-pass filters  250  and  255  to isolate higher frequencies within the audio signal. The isolated lower frequencies may be passed through low-pass gain amplifiers  260  and  265 , and the isolated higher frequencies may be passed through high-pass gain amplifiers  270  and  275 . The filtered and amplified audio signal may be transmitted from the remote device RF radio  230  to the hearing aid RF radio  235 . The amplified signals may be combined at a signal adder  280  and output to a user through a speaker  285 . 
     The RF radios  230  or  235  may be used to update the filters  240 ,  245 ,  250 , or  255  or the amplifiers  260 ,  265 ,  270 , or  275 . For example, an audiologist may use an external device to characterize the hearing loss profile of a user, and then use an external programming device to adjust various filter characteristics, such as the frequencies attenuated by the filters  240 ,  245 ,  250 , or  255 , or to adjust the dB per octave rate at which the frequencies are attenuated. Similarly, an external programming device may be used to adjust the gain that amplifiers  260 ,  265 ,  270 , or  275  apply to the various frequency bands. The RF radios  230  or  235  may receive one or more of these parameters as inputs, as described more fully with respect to  FIG. 5  below. 
     The filters  240 ,  245 ,  250 , or  255  or the amplifiers  260 ,  265 ,  270 , or  275  may be configured using a hardwired connection to an external programming device, or may be configured to receive configuration changes through the RF radios  230  or  235  using a wireless external programming device. A wireless external programming device may be used to communicate to hearing aid  215  through RF radio  235 , and the hearing aid  215  may convey the filter or amplifier configuration through RF radio  235  to the remote device  210  using remote device RF radio  230 . Conveying configuration information from the hearing aid  215  to the remote device  210  may be useful when the connection path between the external programming device is different from the path between the RF radios  230  and  235 . For example, the external programming device may be connected to the hearing aid  215  using 802.11, and the RF radios  230  and  235  may be connected using Bluetooth. Alternatively, the hearing aid  215  may include a wired or wireless internet connection for remote programming, and may use RF radios  230  and  235  to convey the configuration information to the remote device  210 . Even if the RF radios  230  and  235  use the same protocol, if the external programming device is separated by a distance that inhibits communication, the hearing aid  215  may relay the information to the remote device  210 . The relay of configuration partners is also described below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     The RF radios  230  and  235  may also be used to detect and compensate for unwanted noise. For example, the hearing aid  215  may detect excessive unwanted noise in a particular frequency band and send configuration information to the remote device  210  to filter specific frequencies to attenuate the unwanted noise. Similarly, the hearing aid  215  may convey all audio information to the remote device  210 , the remote device  210  may compare the received audio information with audio information received at the remote device microphone  220 , and may alter its filter or amplifier configuration to compensate for the unwanted noise. Detection and compensation for unwanted noise is also described below with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a method  300  of avoiding cross-modulation in remote microphones. Method  300  may include using a local hearing assistance device microphone to transduce  310  a local sound source into a local audio signal. Similarly, method  300  may include using a remote hearing assistance device microphone to transduce  315  a remote sound source into a remote audio signal. Using the local and remote audio signals, method  300  may include generating  320  local and remote frequency band gains, as shown and discussed in  FIG. 4  and accompanying text. The remote frequency gains may be sent to and received  325  by the remote hearing assistance device. At the local hearing assistance device, the received local audio signal may be decomposed  330  into local frequency band signals. The local frequency band gains may be applied to the local frequency band signals to generate  340  local amplified frequency bands. In parallel with the generation of local amplified frequency bands, the remote device may use remote frequency band gains to generate remote amplified frequency bands. The remote hearing assistance device may be configured to decompose  335  the remote audio signal into remote frequency band signals. The remote hearing assistance device may apply the remote frequency band gains to the remote frequency band signals to generate  345  remote amplified frequency bands. 
     The local or remote amplified frequency bands may correspond to a hearing loss profile of a hearing assistance user and to the local or remote noise environment, respectively. The hearing loss profile may be generated by applying a hearing loss characterization test to generate hearing loss characterization results, where the hearing loss characterization results may be used by an audiologist or automated program to generate the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user. Applying the local or remote frequency band gains to the local or remote frequency band signals includes applying a positive gain to a frequency band corresponding to speech frequencies to improve intelligibility. The application of frequency band gains to the frequency bands may be performed in parallel or in series. For example, a series application may include multiplexing the frequency band signals through a local or remote multiplexed signal amplifier. 
     Once generated, the remote amplified frequency bands may be sent  355  from the remote hearing assistance device and received  350  by the local hearing assistance device. The local hearing assistance device may use a signal adder to combine  360  the local amplified frequency bands with the remote amplified frequency bands to generate a combined amplified audio output signal. The local hearing assistance device may use a local speaker to transduce  370  the combined amplified audio output signal into an audible audio output. 
       FIG. 4  shows a method  400  of generating local and remote frequency band gains. Method  400  frequency band gains may include receiving  410  a remote sound signal and a local sound signal, where at least a portion of the local audio signal is different from at least a portion of the remote audio signal. The remote sound signal may be compared  420  and the local sound signal. This comparison identifies differences between the remote sound signal and the local sound signal. The identified differences may be used to generate  430  a local speech and noise profile and a remote speech and noise profile. The local speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user may be used to generate  440  the local frequency band gains. The remote speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user may be used to generate  445  the remote frequency band gains. 
       FIG. 5  shows a method  500  of receiving and applying inputs to implement cross-modulation avoidance in remote microphones. The local hearing assistance device may receive  510  a manual input. The manual input may be a manual frequency gain input, a manual filter parameter input, or another input. For example, a manual frequency gain input may include a manual adjustment to at least one of the local or remote frequency band gains. Method  500  may include determining the type of manual input. For example, method  500  may include determining  512  whether the input is a manual frequency gain input or a manual filter parameter input. 
     If the input is a manual frequency gain input, method  500  may include determining  514  whether the frequency input is intended for a local or remote device. If the input is a manual frequency gain input intended for a local device, the local device may apply  520  the local manual frequency gain input to the local frequency band signals to generate local amplified frequency bands. If the input is intended for a remote device, the manual remote frequency gain input may be relayed  530  to the remote device, and the remote device may apply  540  the remote manual frequency gain input to the remote frequency band signals to generate remote amplified frequency bands. 
     If the input is a manual filter parameter input, method  500  may include determining  516  whether the filter parameter input is intended for a local or remote device. The filter parameters may include multiple parameters corresponding to multiple frequency bands. For example, the filter parameters may include one or more of a pass band frequency range, a pass band attenuation profile, a stop band frequency range, and a stop band attenuation profile. If the filter parameters are intended for a local device, the local filter parameters may be used in decomposing the local audio signal. Decomposing the local audio signal may include applying  550  the local filter parameters to the local audio signal to generate the local frequency band signals. The local hearing assistance device may receive a manual filter parameter input intended for a remote device. The manual remote filter parameter input may include a manual adjustment to at least one of the remote filter parameters. The local hearing assistance device may relay  560  the manual remote filter parameter input to the remote hearing assistance device. The remote hearing assistance device may be configured to use the remote filter parameters in decomposing the remote audio signal into remote frequency band signals. For example, decomposing the remote audio signal may include applying  570  the remote filter parameters to the remote audio signal to generate remote filtered frequency bands. 
       FIG. 6  shows a method  600  of compensating for an unwanted noise using a remote microphone. Method  600  will be described with respect to an embodiment that includes detecting and attenuating the unwanted noise at the local hearing assistance device, however a similar method may occur if the unwanted noise is stronger at the remote hearing assistance device than at the local hearing assistance device. In this embodiment, the local hearing assistance device may detect  610  an unwanted noise. The magnitude or duration of the unwanted noise may be transient, sustained, periodic, or a combination thereof. The local hearing assistance device may identify  620  an interference frequency band associated with the unwanted noise. The interference frequency band may be selected from between or among currently designated frequency bands. The unwanted noise may have an associated lower frequency and upper frequency, and the associated lower frequency and upper frequency may be used to identify a new frequency band associated with the unwanted noise. For example, the interference frequency band may span two or more of the currently designated frequency bands, where the unwanted noise lower frequency and upper frequency are each within a different currently designated frequency band. The interference frequency band may then be defined to include either a portion of or all of the two or more currently designated frequency bands. 
     In this embodiment, the local hearing assistance device may compensate for the unwanted noise by attenuating the unwanted noise at the local hearing assistance device, though other embodiments may include attenuating the unwanted noise at the remote hearing assistance device. In this embodiment, the local hearing assistance device may determine that the unwanted noise is stronger at the local hearing assistance device than at the remote hearing assistance device. The local hearing assistance device may generate  630  a local and remote unwanted noise frequency band gain corresponding to the interference frequency band. The local unwanted noise frequency band gain may be configured to reduce perception of the local unwanted noise. In contrast to the local unwanted noise frequency band gain, the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain may be configured to compensate for the reduced perception of the local unwanted noise. For example, the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain may amplify remote sounds within the remote interference frequency band to compensate for the attenuation of the local interference frequency band. The remote unwanted noise frequency band gain may be sent from the local hearing assistance device and received  635  by the remote hearing assistance device. The local unwanted noise frequency band gain may be applied  640  to the interference frequency band to generate a local compensated frequency band. Similarly, the remote hearing assistance device may apply  645  the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain to the interference frequency band to generate a remote compensated frequency band. The remote hearing assistance device may send  655  the remote compensated frequency band, and the local hearing assistance device may receive  650  the remote compensated frequency band. At the local hearing assistance device, a signal adder may be used to combine  660  the remote compensated frequency band with the local compensated frequency band to generate a combined compensated audio output signal. The local hearing assistance device may use a local speaker to transduce  670  the combined compensated audio output signal into an audible audio output. 
     As described above, method  600  may include detecting and attenuating the unwanted noise at the local hearing assistance device, however a similar method may occur if method  600  determines that the unwanted noise is stronger at the remote hearing assistance device than at the local hearing assistance device. In addition, a bidirectional compensation may be appropriate when the unwanted noise reaches one of the hearing assistance devices before reaching the other hearing assistance device. For example, an unwanted noise may reach the remote hearing assistance device before reaching the local hearing assistance device. As the unwanted noise reaches the remote hearing assistance device, the unwanted noise may be attenuated at the remote hearing assistance device and the local frequency band may be amplified. As the unwanted noise reaches the local hearing assistance device, the unwanted noise may be attenuated at the local hearing assistance device and the remote frequency band may be amplified and sent to the local hearing assistance device. A reversed process may be used if the unwanted noise reaches the local hearing assistance device before reaching the remote hearing assistance device. 
     In various embodiments, the mixing is done using the processor of the hearing assistance device. In cases where such devices are hearing aids, that processing can be done by the digital signal processor of the hearing aid or by another set of logic programmed to perform the mixing function provided herein. Other applications and processes are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
     It is understood that in various embodiments, the apparatus and processes set forth herein may be embodied in digital hardware, analog hardware, and/or combinations thereof. It is also understood that in various embodiments, the apparatus and processes set forth herein may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, and/or combinations thereof. 
     The present subject matter is demonstrated for hearing assistance devices, including hearing aids, including but not limited to, behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) type hearing aids. It is understood that behind-the-ear type hearing aids may include devices that reside substantially behind the ear or over the ear. Such devices may include hearing aids with receivers associated with the electronics portion of the behind-the-ear device, or hearing aids of the type having receivers in the ear canal of the user, including but not limited to receiver-in-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) designs. The present subject matter can also be used with in-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC) devices. The present subject matter can also be used with wired or wireless ear bud devices. The present subject matter can also be used in hearing assistance devices generally, such as cochlear implant-type hearing devices and such as deep insertion devices having a transducer, such as a receiver or microphone, whether custom fitted, standard, open fitted, or occlusive fitted. It is understood that other hearing assistance devices not expressly stated herein may be used in conjunction with the present subject matter. 
     Example 1 includes a method for reducing the effect of hearing assistance device cross-modulation using a remote hearing assistance device, the method comprising sending a plurality of remote frequency band gains to a remote hearing assistance device, the remote hearing assistance device configured to decompose a remote audio signal into a plurality of remote frequency band signals and apply the plurality of remote frequency band gains to the plurality of remote frequency band signals to generate a plurality of remote amplified frequency bands, wherein the remote frequency band gains correspond to a remote noise environment and to a hearing loss profile of a hearing assistance user, receiving the plurality of remote amplified frequency bands at a local hearing assistance device associated with the hearing assistance user, and combining, using a signal adder, a plurality of local amplified frequency bands with the remote amplified frequency bands to generate a combined amplified audio output signal. 
     Example 2 includes the method of claim  1 , further including receiving a remote sound signal and a local sound signal, wherein at least a portion of the local audio signal is different from at least a portion of the remote audio signal, comparing the remote sound source and the local sound source to identify a plurality of identified differences between the remote sound source and the local sound source, generating, using the plurality of identified differences, a remote speech and noise profile and a local speech and noise profile, and generating, using the remote speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user, the plurality of remote frequency band gains. 
     Example 3 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 2 , further including generating, using the local speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user, a plurality of local frequency band gains, decomposing the received local audio signal into a plurality of local frequency band signals, and applying the plurality of local frequency band gains to the plurality of local frequency band signals to generate a plurality of local amplified frequency bands. 
     Example 4 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 3 , further including transducing, using a remote device microphone, a remote sound source into the remote audio signal, and transducing, using a local device microphone, a local sound source into the local audio signal. 
     Example 5 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 2 , further including transducing, using a local speaker, the combined amplified audio output signal into an audible audio output. 
     Example 6 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 3 , wherein applying the plurality of local frequency band gains to the plurality of local frequency band signals includes applying a positive gain to a speech frequency band corresponding to speech frequencies. 
     Example 7 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 3 , wherein applying the plurality of local frequency band gains to the plurality of local frequency band signals includes multiplexing the plurality of local frequency band signals through a multiplexed signal amplifier. 
     Example 8 includes the method of claim  1 , further including applying a hearing loss characterization test to generate a plurality of hearing loss characterization results, and generating, using the plurality of hearing loss characterization results, the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user. 
     Example 9 includes the method of claim  1 , further including receiving, at the local hearing assistance device, a manual remote frequency gain input, the manual remote frequency gain input including a manual adjustment to at least one of the plurality of remote frequency band gains, and relaying the manual remote frequency gain input to the remote hearing assistance device. 
     Example 10 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 3 , further including receiving a plurality of local filter parameters at the local hearing assistance device, the plurality of local filter parameters corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands, wherein decomposing the local audio signal includes applying the local filter parameters to the local audio signal to generate the plurality of local frequency band signals. 
     Example 11 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 10 , wherein the plurality of local filter parameters include one or more of a pass band frequency range, a pass band attenuation profile, a stop band frequency range, and a stop band attenuation profile. 
     Example 12 includes the method of claim  1 , further including sending a plurality of remote filter parameters to the remote hearing assistance device, wherein the remote hearing assistance device is configured to decompose the remote audio signal into a plurality of remote frequency band signals by applying the remote filter parameters to the remote audio signal to generate a plurality of remote filtered frequency bands. 
     Example 13 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 12 , further including receiving, at the local hearing assistance device, a manual remote filter parameter input, the manual remote filter parameter input including a manual adjustment to at least one of the plurality of remote filter parameters, and relaying the manual remote filter parameter input to the remote hearing assistance device. 
     Example 14 includes the method of any of claims  1 - 3 , further including detecting, at the local hearing assistance device, a local unwanted noise in an interference frequency band, generating a local unwanted noise frequency band gain corresponding to the interference frequency band, the local unwanted noise frequency band gain configured to reduce perception of the local unwanted noise, applying the local unwanted noise frequency band gain to the interference frequency band to generate a local compensated frequency band, generating a remote unwanted noise frequency band gain corresponding to the interference frequency band, the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain configured to compensate for the reduced perception of the local unwanted noise, sending the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain to the remote hearing assistance device, the remote hearing assistance device configured to apply the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain to the interference frequency band to generate a remote compensated frequency band, receiving the remote compensated frequency band at the local hearing assistance device, and combining, using the signal adder, the remote compensated frequency band with the local compensated frequency band to generate a combined compensated audio output signal. 
     Example 15 includes a local hearing assistance device for reducing the effect of hearing assistance device cross-modulation using a remote hearing assistance device, the device comprising a first communications module configured to send a plurality of remote frequency band gains to a remote hearing assistance device, the remote hearing assistance device configured to decompose a remote audio signal into a plurality of remote frequency band signals and apply the plurality of remote frequency band gains to the plurality of remote frequency band signals to generate a plurality of remote amplified frequency bands, wherein the remote frequency band gains correspond to a remote noise environment and to a hearing loss profile of a hearing assistance user, receive the plurality of remote amplified frequency bands at a local hearing assistance device associated with the hearing assistance user, and a signal adder module configured to combine a plurality of local amplified frequency bands with the remote amplified frequency bands to generate a combined amplified audio output signal. 
     Example 16 includes the device of claim  15 , further including a processor configured to receive a remote sound signal and a local sound signal, wherein at least a portion of the local audio signal is different from at least a portion of the remote audio signal, compare the remote sound source and the local sound source to identify a plurality of identified differences between the remote sound source and the local sound source, generate, using the plurality of identified differences, a remote speech and noise profile and a local speech and noise profile, generate, using the remote speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user, the plurality of remote frequency band gains, and generate, using the local speech and noise profile and the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user, a plurality of local frequency band gains. 
     Example 17 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 16 , further including a filterbank configured to decompose the local audio signal into a plurality of local frequency band signals, apply the plurality of local frequency band gains to the plurality of local frequency band signals to generate a plurality of local amplified frequency bands. 
     Example 18 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 17 , further including a local microphone configured to transduce a local sound source into the local audio signal. 
     Example 19 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 16 , further including a local speaker configured to transduce the combined amplified audio output signal into an audible audio output. 
     Example 20 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 17 , the filterbank further configured to apply a positive gain to a speech frequency band corresponding to speech frequencies. 
     Example 21 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 17 , the filterbank including a multiplexed signal amplifier, the multiplexed signal amplifier configured to multiplex the plurality of local frequency band signals. 
     Example 22 includes the device of claim  15 , the processor further configured to apply a hearing loss characterization test to generate a plurality of hearing loss characterization results, and generate, using the plurality of hearing loss characterization results, the hearing loss profile of the hearing assistance user. 
     Example 23 includes the device of claim  15 , further including an interface module configured to receive a manual remote frequency gain input, the manual remote frequency gain input including a manual adjustment to at least one of the plurality of remote frequency band gains, wherein the first communications module is further configured to relay the manual remote frequency gain input to the remote hearing assistance device. 
     Example 24 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 23 , the interface module further configured to receive a plurality of local filter parameters, the plurality of local filter parameters corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands, and the filterbank further configured to apply the local filter parameters to the local audio signal to generate the plurality of local frequency band signals. 
     Example 25 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 24 , wherein the plurality of local filter parameters include one or more of a pass band frequency range, a pass band attenuation profile, a stop band frequency range, and a stop band attenuation profile. 
     Example 26 includes the device of claim  15 , the first communications module further configured to send a plurality of remote filter parameters to the remote hearing assistance device. 
     Example 27 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 23 , the interface module further configured to receive a manual remote filter parameter input, the manual remote filter parameter input including a manual adjustment to at least one of the plurality of remote filter parameters, and the first communications module further configured to relay the manual remote filter parameter input to the remote hearing assistance device. 
     Example 28 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 17 , the processor further configured to detect a local unwanted noise in an interference frequency band, generate a local unwanted noise frequency band gain corresponding to the interference frequency band, the local unwanted noise frequency band gain configured to reduce perception of the local unwanted noise, and generate a remote unwanted noise frequency band gain corresponding to the interference frequency band, the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain configured to compensate for the reduced perception of the local unwanted noise. 
     Example 29 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 28 , the first communications module further configured to send the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain to the remote hearing assistance device, the remote hearing assistance device configured to apply the remote unwanted noise frequency band gain to the interference frequency band to generate a remote compensated frequency band, and receive the remote compensated frequency band at the local hearing assistance device. 
     Example 30 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 29 , the filterbank further configured to apply the local unwanted noise frequency band gain to the interference frequency band to generate a local compensated frequency band. 
     Example 31 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 30 , the signal adder further configured to combine the remote compensated frequency band with the local compensated frequency band to generate a combined compensated audio output signal. 
     Example 32 includes the device of any of claims  1 - 23 , the interface module including a second communications module, wherein the first communications module uses a first communication protocol, the second communications module uses a second communication protocol, and the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol. 
     This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     The preceding detailed description of the present subject matter refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an,” “one,” or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is demonstrative and not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present subject matter is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.