Patent ID: 8233651

Claim:
A method of operating an EAS system to prevent feedback, the EAS system having a cochlear implant (CI) portion and a hearing aid portion, wherein the CI portion includes an electrode array adapted to be inserted into a user's cochlea, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode contacts through which direct electrical stimulation may be applied to the basal region of the cochlea; and wherein the hearing aid portion includes a speaker adapted to be placed in or near the ear canal of the user through which sound signals amplified and processed by the hearing aid portion are broadcast into and through the ear canal; the method comprising: coupling a first microphone to the CI portion of the EAS system, whereby sounds sensed through the first microphone are processed by the CI portion and applied to the electrode contacts in order to directly electrically stimulate the basal region of the cochlea; coupling a second microphone to the hearing aid portion of the EAS system, whereby sounds sensed through the second microphone are processed by the hearing aid portion and broadcast from the speaker into the ear canal; and acoustically separating the second microphone from the speaker to avoid feedback within the hearing aid portion of the EAS system.