Patent Publication Number: US-11039257-B2

Title: Auditory prosthesis system including sound processor apparatus with position sensor

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/313,907, filed Nov. 23, 2016, which application is a U.S. National Stage Entry of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/039822, filed May 28, 2014. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Many auditory prosthesis systems are capable of implementing a variety of operating modes and/or configurations to assist patients with hearing loss. For example, an auditory prosthesis system may include a sound processor apparatus located external to a patient. In one example, the patient may attempt to modify the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus to achieve better performance and/or additional comfort during a particular activity (e.g., when playing a sport, talking on a telephone, or lying down to sleep). Additionally or alternatively, the patient may attempt to modify the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus to preserve battery life. 
     In some cases, the patient may encounter certain inconveniences and/or obstacles that limit his or her ability to modify the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus. For example, the sound processor apparatus may include a limited number of user interfaces (e.g., buttons or feedback devices) due at least in part to the apparatus&#39;s relatively small size. As a result, the patient may have difficulty utilizing such user interfaces to modify the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus. As another example, the patient may follow a religious practice that restricts him or her from turning on or off electrical devices on a designated day of rest (e.g., Judaism&#39;s Shabbat). Additionally or alternatively, the patient may be entirely unaware that a modification to the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus could potentially improve performance and/or provide additional comfort. 
     Unfortunately, conventional technologies may lack the ability to sense the patient&#39;s intent or desire to modify the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus without deliberate user input. Similarly, conventional technologies may lack the ability to sense certain scenarios in which a modification to the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus could potentially improve performance and/or provide additional comfort. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, identical or similar reference numbers designate identical or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary auditory prosthesis system according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates exemplary components that may be included within a sound processor apparatus according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 3  shows exemplary positionings of the sound processor apparatus of  FIG. 2  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary preferred positioning of the sound processor apparatus of  FIG. 2  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 5  shows an exemplary detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus of  FIG. 2  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary auditory prosthesis system according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 7  shows an exemplary detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus of  FIG. 2  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method according to principles described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Auditory prosthesis systems are described herein. As will be described below, an exemplary auditory prosthesis system may include a sound processor apparatus configured for external use by a patient and that includes 1) a position sensor (e.g., a magnetometer, an accelerometer, and/or a gyroscope) that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the auditory prosthesis system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. 
     To illustrate, the position sensor may take a measurement used to determine the positioning of the sound processor apparatus. As part of taking this measurement, the position sensor may generate positioning data representative of the positioning of the sound processor apparatus. The position sensor may then provide the positioning data to the control module. Upon receiving the positioning data from the position sensor, the control module may use the positioning data to determine whether the sound processor apparatus has experienced a change in position. For example, the control module may determine that the sound processor apparatus has moved from one position to another and/or experienced a change in orientation. 
     By using the positioning data to determine whether the sound processor apparatus has experienced a change in position, the control module may enable the sound processor apparatus and/or one or more other components of the auditory prosthesis system to provide the patient with various benefits. For example, the control module may be able to deduce, infer, and/or anticipate the patient&#39;s intent or desire to modify an operating mode and/or a configuration of the sound processor apparatus (even without deliberate user input) based at least in part on the positioning data. Additionally or alternatively, the control module may be able to detect and/or anticipate certain scenarios in which a modification to the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus could potentially improve performance and/or provide additional comfort based at least in part on the positioning data. 
     As an example, the control module may compare the positioning data with reference data representative of a preferred positioning and/or a previous positioning of the sound processor apparatus. The control module may then determine a difference between the preferred and/or previous positioning and the detected positioning based at least in part on the reference data and the positioning data. In response to this determination, the control module may perform a predetermined action with respect to the auditory prosthesis system. Exemplary predetermined actions include, but are not limited to, adjusting a configuration of one or more components (e.g., a beamforming feature) of the auditory prosthesis system, turning the sound processor apparatus on or off, switching active microphones on the auditory prosthesis system, and/or implementing or exiting an operating mode (e.g., a telephone mode, an idle mode, and/or an active mode). 
     Accordingly, and as will be described in more detail below, the control module and the position sensor may operate in conjunction with each other to improve the performance of the auditory prosthesis system and/or provide additional comfort and/or convenience to the patient, thereby enhancing the patient&#39;s overall experience with the auditory prosthesis system. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary auditory prosthesis system  100 . As shown, auditory prosthesis system  100  may include various components configured to be located external to a patient including, but not limited to, a microphone  102 , a sound processor apparatus  104 , and a headpiece  106 . Auditory prosthesis system  100  may further include various components configured to be implanted within the patient including, but not limited to, a cochlear implant  108  and a lead  110  with a plurality of electrodes  112  disposed thereon. As will be described in more detail below, additional or alternative components may be included within auditory prosthesis system  100  as may serve a particular implementation. The components shown in  FIG. 1  will now be described in more detail. 
     Microphone  102  may be configured to detect audio signals presented to the patient. Microphone  102  may be implemented in any suitable manner. For example, microphone  102  may include and/or represent a microphone that is configured to be placed within the concha of the ear near the entrance to the ear canal, such as a T-MIC™ microphone from Advanced Bionics. Such a microphone may be held within the concha of the ear near the entrance of the ear canal by a boom or stalk that is attached to an ear hook configured to be selectively attached to sound processor apparatus  104 . Additionally or alternatively, microphone  102  may be implemented by one or more microphones disposed within headpiece  106 , one or more microphones disposed within sound processor apparatus  104 , and/or any other suitable microphone as may serve a particular implementation. 
     Sound processor apparatus  104  (i.e., one or more components included within sound processor apparatus  104 ) may be configured to direct cochlear implant  108  to generate and apply electrical stimulation (also referred to herein as “stimulation current”) representative of one or more audio signals (e.g., one or more audio signals detected by microphone  102 , input by way of an auxiliary audio input port, etc.) to one or more stimulation sites associated with an auditory pathway (e.g., the auditory nerve) of the patient. Exemplary stimulation sites include, but are not limited to, one or more locations within the cochlea, the cochlear nucleus, the inferior colliculus, and/or any other nuclei in the auditory pathway. To this end, sound processor apparatus  104  may process the one or more audio signals in accordance with a selected sound processing strategy or program to generate appropriate stimulation parameters for controlling cochlear implant  108 . Sound processor apparatus  104  may include or be implemented by a behind-the-ear (“BTE”) unit, a body worn device, and/or any other sound processing unit as may serve a particular implementation. 
     In some examples, sound processor apparatus  104  may wirelessly transmit stimulation parameters (e.g., in the form of data words included in a forward telemetry sequence) and/or power signals to cochlear implant  108  by way of a wireless communication link  114  between headpiece  106  and cochlear implant  108 . It will be understood that wireless communication link  114  may include a bi-directional communication link and/or one or more dedicated uni-directional communication links. 
     Headpiece  106  may be communicatively coupled to sound processor apparatus  104  and may include an external antenna (e.g., a coil and/or one or more wireless communication components) configured to facilitate selective wireless coupling of sound processor apparatus  104  to cochlear implant  108 . Headpiece  106  may additionally or alternatively be used to selectively and wirelessly couple any other external device to cochlear implant  108 . To this end, headpiece  106  may be configured to be affixed to the patient&#39;s head and positioned such that the external antenna housed within headpiece  106  is communicatively coupled to a corresponding implantable antenna (which may also be implemented by a coil and/or one or more wireless communication components) included within or otherwise associated with cochlear implant  108 . In this manner, stimulation parameters and/or power signals may be wirelessly transmitted between sound processor apparatus  104  and cochlear implant  108  via a wireless communication link  114  (which may include a bi-directional communication link and/or one or more dedicated uni-directional communication links as may serve a particular implementation). 
     Cochlear implant  108  may include any type of implantable stimulator that may be used in association with the systems and methods described herein. For example, cochlear implant  108  may be implemented by an implantable cochlear stimulator. In some alternative implementations, cochlear implant  108  may include a brainstem implant and/or any other type of cochlear implant that may be implanted within a patient and configured to apply stimulation to one or more stimulation sites located along an auditory pathway of a patient. 
     In some examples, cochlear implant  108  may be configured to generate electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal processed by sound processor apparatus  104  (e.g., an audio signal detected by microphone  102 ) in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters transmitted thereto by sound processor apparatus  104 . Cochlear implant  108  may be further configured to apply the electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the patient via one or more electrodes  112  disposed along lead  110 . In some examples, cochlear implant  108  may include a plurality of independent current sources each associated with a channel defined by one or more of electrodes  112 . In this manner, different stimulation current levels may be applied to multiple stimulation sites simultaneously by way of multiple electrodes  112 . 
     The auditory prosthesis system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be referred to as a cochlear implant system because sound processor apparatus  104  is configured to direct cochlear implant  108  to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of audio content (e.g., one or more audio signals) to one or more stimulation sites within the patient by way of one or more of electrodes  112 . Auditory prosthesis system  100  may alternatively be implemented by an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) system configured to provide both electrical stimulation by way of cochlear implant  108  and acoustic stimulation by way of a receiver or loudspeaker (not shown) connected to sound processor apparatus  104 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates exemplary components that may be included within sound processor apparatus  104 . As shown, sound processor apparatus  104  may include a control module  202  and a position sensor  204 . It will be recognized that sound processor apparatus  104  may include additional or alternative components as may serve a particular implementation. In some examples, one or more of the components included in sound processor apparatus  104  (e.g., control module  202  and position sensor  204 ) may be housed within a single casing. 
     Control module  202  may be configured to perform one or more operations with respect to one or more components connected to or otherwise communicatively coupled to sound processor apparatus  104 . For example, control module  202  may be configured to control an operation of cochlear implant  108 , a receiver (i.e., loudspeaker) connected to sound processor apparatus  104 , and/or any other device associated with providing electrical and/or acoustic stimulation to a patient. To illustrate, control module  202  may process an audio signal presented to the patient, generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the processing of the audio signal, and direct cochlear implant  108  to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the patient in accordance with the stimulation parameters (e.g., by transmitting the stimulation parameters to cochlear implant  108 ). 
     Control module  202  may be additionally or alternatively configured to interact with and/or receive positioning data from position sensor  204  included within sound processor apparatus  104 . Control module  202  may be able to deduce, infer, and/or anticipate the patient&#39;s intent or desire to modify an operating mode and/or a configuration of the sound processor apparatus (even without deliberate user input) based at least in part on the positioning data. Additionally or alternatively, control module  202  may be able to detect and/or anticipate certain scenarios in which a modification to the operating mode and/or configuration of the sound processor apparatus could potentially improve performance and/or provide additional comfort to the patient based at least in part on the positioning data. Exemplary ways in which these operations may be performed will be described below. 
     Control module  202  may be implemented by any suitable combination of integrated circuits, circuitry, processors, and/or computing devices configured to perform one or more of the operations and/or functions described herein. Exemplary implementations of control module  202  will be described below. 
     Position sensor  204  may be configured to take measurements used to determine the positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . To this end, position sensor  204  may include and/or represent any type of form of sensor capable of taking such measurements as may serve a particular implementation. For example, position sensor  204  may include and/or represent a magnetometer, an accelerometer, and/or a gyroscope. 
     Accordingly, position sensor  204  may take any type or form of measurement used to determine the positioning of sound processor apparatus  104  as may serve a particular implementation. For example, position sensor  204  may detect and/or measure any magnetic activity of sound processor apparatus  104 , angular momentum of sound processor apparatus  104 , movement of sound processor apparatus  104 , or lack thereof. In addition, position sensor  204  may generate positioning data representative of such magnetic activity, angular momentum, and/or movement. Exemplary ways in which these measurements may be used to determine the positioning of sound processor apparatus  104  will be described below. 
     Control module  202  and position sensor  204  may be implemented in any suitable manner to detect a positioning of sound processor apparatus  104  and/or perform a predetermined action with respect to auditory prosthesis system  100  in accordance with the detected positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . 
       FIG. 3  shows exemplary positionings of sound processor apparatus  104 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , sound processor apparatus  104  may be positioned on a surface  302  (e.g., a table) in a stationary positioning  304 . At some point, sound processor apparatus  104  may experience a change in position  308  (e.g., when a user of sound processor apparatus  104  picks up sound processor apparatus  104  from surface  302  in order to place sound processor apparatus  104  behind the user&#39;s ear). During or after change in position  308 , sound processor apparatus  104  may be positioned in a mobile positioning  306 . 
     In one implementation, position sensor  204  included within sound processor apparatus  104  may be configured to take periodic measurements used to determine the positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . For example, position sensor  204  may detect and/or measure any magnetic activity, angular momentum, movement, or lack thereof while sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned in stationary positioning  304 . In addition, position sensor  204  may generate reference data representative of sound processor apparatus  104  being positioned in stationary positioning  304 . Position sensor  204  may then provide the reference data to control module  202  included within sound processor apparatus  104 . 
     By providing the reference data to control module  202 , position sensor  204  may enable control module  202  to use the reference data to detect when sound processor apparatus  104  experiences a change in position. For example, at some point, position sensor  204  (e.g., a magnetometer) may detect and/or measure magnetic activity indicative of a change in orientation of sound processor apparatus  104 . In another example, position sensor  204  (e.g., a gyroscope) may detect and/or measure angular momentum indicative of a change in orientation of sound processor apparatus  104 . Additionally or alternatively, position sensor  204  (e.g., an accelerometer) may detect and/or measure movement indicative of a change in position of sound processor apparatus  104 . In addition, position sensor  204  may generate positioning data representative of sound processor apparatus  104  being positioned in mobile positioning  306 . Position sensor  204  may then provide the positioning data to control module  202  included within sound processor apparatus  104 . 
     Upon receiving the positioning data from position sensor  204 , control module  202  may compare the positioning data with the reference data representative of sound processor apparatus  104  being positioned in stationary positioning  304 . Control module  202  may then determine that sound processor apparatus  104  has experienced change in position  308  based at least in part on this comparison of the positioning data and the reference data. In response to determining that sound processor apparatus  104  has experienced change in position  308 , control module  202  may perform a predetermined action with respect to auditory prosthesis system  100 . 
     As an example, in the event that control module  202  is operating in an idle mode while positioned in stationary positioning  304 , control module  202  may exit the idle mode and begin to operate in an active mode in response to change in position  308 . The phrase “idle mode,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of operating mode that at least partially limits a functionality of an auditory prosthesis system. In contrast, the phrase “active mode,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of operating mode that facilitates that functionality of the auditory prosthesis system. The active mode, however, may have the adverse effect of decreasing the battery life of sound processor apparatus  104  faster than the idle mode. By exiting the idle mode and beginning to operate in the active mode in response to change in position  308 , control module  202  may anticipate and/or address the patient&#39;s intent or desire to turn sound processor apparatus  104  to active mode (even without deliberate user input). In some examples, this may facilitate compliance by the patient with Shabbat and/or other religious holidays because the patient does not have to manually turn the sound processor apparatus  104  on. 
       FIG. 4  shows an exemplary preferred positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , sound processor apparatus  104  may be positioned behind an ear  402  of a patient in a preferred positioning  404 . The phrase “preferred positioning,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of positioning that serves as a preferred reference position and/or orientation of a sound processor apparatus. 
     In one example, sound processor apparatus  104  may be physically connected and/or communicatively coupled to headpiece  106  by way of a physical communication link  406 . In this example, sound processor apparatus  104  may transmit auditory signals and/or control parameters to headpiece  106  by way of physical communication link  406 . Headpiece  106  may then transmit the auditory signals and/or control parameters to cochlear implant  108  by way of wireless communication link  114 . 
     In one implementation, control module  202  may obtain and/or store reference data representative of preferred positioning  404  during a fitting session (or at any other time) in which sound processor apparatus  104  is fitted (e.g., by a clinician) to the patient. By obtaining and/or storing the reference data in this manner, control module  202  may be able to use the reference data to detect when sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned in a positioning that differs from preferred positioning  404 . For example, at some point, position sensor  204  may detect and/or measure any magnetic activity, angular momentum, movement, or lack thereof indicative of the current position and/or orientation of sound processor apparatus  104 . In addition, position sensor  204  may generate positioning data representative of the current position and/or orientation of sound processor apparatus  104 . Position sensor  204  may then provide the positioning data to control module  202  included within sound processor apparatus  104 . 
     Upon receiving the positioning data from position sensor  204 , control module  202  may compare the positioning data with the reference data representative of the current position and/or orientation of sound processor apparatus  104 . Control module  202  may then detect and/or determine a difference between preferred positioning  404  and the detected positioning of sound processor apparatus  104  based at least in part on this comparison of the reference data and the positioning data. For example, control module  202  may detect and/or determine that sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned off-axis by a certain amount relative to preferred positioning  404 . In response to detecting and/or determining the difference between preferred positioning  404  and the detected positioning, control module  202  may perform a predetermined action with respect to auditory prosthesis system  100 . 
     As an example, in the event that the detected positioning differs from preferred positioning  404 , control module  202  may adjust at least one configuration setting of auditory prosthesis system  100  to compensate for the difference between the detected positioning and the preferred positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . For example, control module  202  may adjust at least one configuration setting that controls a beamforming feature of auditory prosthesis system  100 . The phrase “beamforming feature,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of signal processing technique and/or mechanism that filters noise by applying constructive and/or destructive interference in specific directions relative to the source of the noise. By adjusting the configuration setting that controls the beamforming feature in this manner, control module  202  may potentially improve the performance of auditory prosthesis system  100  and/or provide additional comfort to the patient even without deliberate user input from the patient. In one example, control module  202  may turn the beamforming feature on or off and/or modify the strength of the beamforming feature. 
     Exemplary configuration settings include, but are not limited to, volume control settings, beamforming settings, program selection settings, operating mode settings (e.g., settings that turn a sound processor apparatus and/or a cochlear implant on or off), audio input source selection settings, fitting settings, noise reduction settings, microphone sensitivity settings, microphone direction settings, pitch settings, timbre settings, sound quality settings, most comfortable current levels (“M levels”), threshold current levels, channel acoustic gain settings, front and backend dynamic range settings, current steering parameters, pulse rate values, pulse width values, frequency settings, amplitude settings, waveform settings, electrode polarity settings (e.g., anode-cathode assignments), location settings (e.g., which electrode pair or electrode group receives the stimulation current), stimulation type settings (e.g., monopolar, bipolar, or tripolar stimulation), burst pattern settings (e.g., burst on time and burst off time), duty cycle parameters, spectral tilt parameters, filter parameters, and dynamic compression parameters. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary detected positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , sound processor apparatus  104  may be positioned on the patient in an off-ear configuration  502  that differs from preferred positioning  404 . The phrase “off-ear configuration,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of positioning and/or configuration in which a sound processor apparatus is worn and/or mounted off of and/or away from a patient&#39;s ear. In one example, the patient may position sound processor apparatus  104  in off-ear configuration  502  for increased comfort during a physical activity (e.g., when playing a sport). 
     In the event that sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned in off-ear configuration  502 , control module  202  may switch active microphones on auditory prosthesis system  100  to compensate for the difference between preferred positioning  404  and off-ear configuration  502  of sound processor apparatus  104 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , auditory prosthesis system  100  may include microphone  102  associated with sound processor apparatus  104  and a microphone  602  associated with (e.g., included in or connected to) headpiece  106 . In one example, microphone  102  may be initially active, and microphone  602  may be initially inactive. In response to detecting and/or determining the difference between preferred positioning  404  and off-ear configuration  502 , control module  202  may deactivate microphone  102  and activate microphone  602 . By deactivating microphone  102  and activating microphone  602  in this manner, control module  202  may potentially improve the performance of auditory prosthesis system  100  and/or provide additional comfort to the patient even without deliberate user input from the patient. 
     In one example, control module  202  may detect an active communication link between sound processor apparatus  104  and cochlear implant  108  prior to deactivating microphone  102  and/or activating microphone  602 . For example, control module  202  may ensure that sound processor apparatus  104  and cochlear implant  108  are currently able to communicate with each other via physical communication link  406  and wireless communication link  114 . In addition, control module  202  may determine that sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned in off-ear configuration  502  based at least in part on active communication link  406  and the difference between preferred positioning  404  and off-ear configuration  502 . In other words, control module  202  may deduce and/or infer the patient&#39;s intent or desire to use sound processor apparatus  104  while positioned in off-ear configuration  502  since sound processor apparatus  104  is physically connected to (sometimes referred to as being “locked to”) active communication link  406 . Control module  202  may then initiate the deactivation of microphone  102  and/or the activation of microphone  602  due at least in part to the patient&#39;s intent or desire to use sound processor apparatus  104  while positioned in off-ear configuration  502 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an exemplary detected positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , sound processor apparatus  104  may be mounted external to the patient and positioned physically proximate to a telephone  702  that includes a magnet. Sound processor apparatus  104  may be located at a distance  704  away from telephone  702 . 
     In one example, position sensor  204  may include and/or represent a magnetometer that detects and/or measures certain magnetic activity while sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned physically proximate to telephone  702 . For example, the magnetometer may detect and/or measure a relatively strong magnetic field while sound processor apparatus  104  is located at distance  704  away from telephone  702 . Additionally or alternatively, the magnetometer may have multiple axes that each yield a substantially saturated response while sound processor apparatus  104  is located at distance  704  away from telephone  702 . As a result, the magnetometer may generate magnetic-activity data indicative of sound processor  104  being positioned physically proximate to the magnet included in telephone  702 . Position sensor  204  may then provide the magnetic-activity data to control module  202  included within sound processor apparatus  104 . 
     Upon receiving the magnetic-activity data from position sensor  204 , control module  202  may compare the magnetic-activity data with reference data representative of sound processor apparatus  104  being positioned physically proximate to a telephone. Control module  202  may then determine that sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned physically proximate to a telephone based at least in part on this comparison of the magnetic-activity data and the reference data. In response to determining that sound processor apparatus  104  is positioned physically proximate to a telephone, control module  202  may direct sound processor apparatus  104  to begin operating in a telephone mode that compensates for sound processor apparatus  104  being physically proximate to the magnet included in telephone  702 . The phrase “telephone mode,” as used herein, generally refers to any type or form of operating mode in which at least one configuration setting of a sound processor apparatus mounted to a patient is adjusted to potentially improve the performance of the patient&#39;s auditory prosthesis system while the patient is on the telephone. For example, control module  202  may automatically enable a telecoil included in sound processing apparatus  104  while sound processing apparatus  104  operates in the telephone mode. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method  800 . While  FIG. 8  illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the steps shown in  FIG. 8 . One or more of the steps shown in  FIG. 8  may be performed by control module  202  and/or any implementation thereof. 
     In step  802 , a control module included within a sound processor apparatus associated with a patient may receive data representative of a positioning of sound processor apparatus  104 . Step  802  may be performed in any of the ways described herein. 
     In step  804 , the control module may determine that the sound processor has experienced a change in position based at least in part on the received data. Step  804  may be performed in any of the ways described herein. 
     In step  806 , the control module may perform a predetermined action with respect to the sound processor apparatus in accordance with the change in position. Step  806  may be performed in any of the ways described herein. 
     In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. For example, certain features of one embodiment described herein may be combined with or substituted for features of another embodiment described herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.