Patent ID: 7974716

Claim:
A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising: a portable housing configured to be worn behind the ear or in the ear of the person; a processor disposed in the portable housing for executing one or more available programs for processing digital audio signals based on control signals; a digital-to-analog converter disposed in the portable housing for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; an audio output section disposed in the portable housing for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person; memory disposed in the portable housing for storing a plurality of preloaded programs for processing the digital audio signals, the memory accessible to the processor; means disposed in or on the portable housing that is operated by the person for generating a first control signal to switch from one of the preloaded programs to another of the preloaded programs; means disposed in or on the portable housing that is operated by the person for generating a second control signal to designate at least one of the preloaded programs as a chosen program; the processor for ceasing execution of one of the preloaded programs and commencing execution of another of the preloaded programs based upon the first control signal; and the processor for designating at least one of the preloaded programs as a chosen program based upon the second control signal and for designating any preloaded program that is not a chosen program as a deactivated program.