Patent ID: 8767989

Claim:
A hearing assistance apparatus adapted to be worn by a user having an ear and an ear canal, the apparatus for hearing assistance of the user, comprising: a microphone for reception of sound and generating a sound signal; a signal processor connected to the microphone, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal for hearing assistance using a signal processing algorithm; a memory connected to the signal processor and configured to store one or more predetermined user activity waveforms; a micro electro-mechanical structure (MEMS) accelerometer adapted to measure mechanical vibration, the MEMS accelerometer connected to the signal processor; and a housing adapted to house the MEMS accelerometer, wherein the signal processor is adapted to process the sound signal using a signal from the MEMS accelerometer and the signal processing algorithm, and wherein the signal processor is adapted to compare the signal from the MEMS accelerometer to the one or more predetermined user activity waveforms and to identify a user activity based on the comparison.