Patent ID: 7136497

Claim:
An acoustical switch for a directional microphone of a hearing aid device, the hearing aid device including a faceplate having a switch aperture, a front port, and a rear port, the microphone including a front inlet in communication with the front port within the face plate and a front chamber of the microphone, and two rear inlets in communication with the rear port within the faceplate and a rear chamber of the microphone, the acoustical switch comprising a switch actuator having a body portion and a lever portion, the body portion including a first closure surface and a second closure surface, the switch actuator adapted to be disposed within the switch aperture of the face plate of the hearing aid device such that the body portion is disposed adjacent to the inlets of the microphone, the switch actuator moveable between a first position wherein the first closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover one of the rear inlets of the microphone, and a second position wherein the second closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover the other of the rear inlets of the microphone, the body portion including a side surface having an acoustical resistance associated therewith, the acoustical resistance substantially greater than an acoustical resistance between either of the ports and its respective microphone chamber.