Research into auditory processing Overview of Research into auditory processing at Stirling Stirling is developing the technology for the next generation of hearing aids. The technology we are developing is based on recent developments in out understanding of how the brain processes sound, and proffers the possibility of allowing the hearing impaired listener to select the particular source of sound they want to listen to.
Sounds arrive at microphones positioned at both ears.
The signal at each ear is processed and sounds from different sources segregated using the fine time-structure of the sound. The signals from the two ears are then combined, and the precise time differences between the signals at each ear used to determine the direction of each sound source. These are displayed to the user, who selects a particular source. Sounds from this source are then preferentially amplified, and presented to the user.