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Outline
A few common misconceptions What is signal processing? Advantages of going digital Analogue to digital conversion Compression why and how? Measurement issues
Common Misconceptions
Only digital hearing aids are signal processing aids Digital is better than Analogue Wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) = digital Nonlinear = digital Programmable hearing aids are the same as DSP hearing aids Digital hearing aids cut out background noise
AD
MIC. LP (Anti-aliasing)
DSP
DA
LP SPEAKER (reconstruction)
What is compression?
Compression: the range of input sound intensities is squashed into a smaller range of output intensities e.g. a range of input intensities from 0 to 100 dB SPL may be compressed into an output range of 50 to 100 dB SPL The output dynamic range is reduced compared to that of the input
Loudness Growth
Typically, sensorineural loss results in recruitment: Low intensity sounds are inaudible Moderate intensity sounds are heard as very quiet High intensity sounds are perceived as similar in loudness to that normal hearing listener Implications for hearing aids High gain for low intensity input Low gain for high intensity input i.e. reduced dynamic range at output compared to input
Compression
Normal
Intense
Impaired
Nonlinear
Moderate
Weak
Dillon (2001)
Peak clipping
Peak-clipping peaks clipped resulting in distorted waveform
attack time - time taken for gain to be turned down by AGC release time - time taken for AGC to come out of compression and restore original gain
Input-output function
Output spectra
Types of compression
The main compression strategies fall into two categories: Compression limiting high knee-point, high compression ratio (e.g. 10:1) limits MPO WDRC wide dynamic range compression, low knee-point, low compression ratio (e.g. 2:1) aims to restore loudness perception in moderate loss
AVC - automatic volume control - slow acting compression designed to adjust overall gain when moving from quiet to noisy environment.
Output limiting
output (dB SPL) 120 110 100 90
+50 dB
linear
80
+40 dB
70
+30 dB
+40 dB gain
+10 dB +0 dB
60
+20 dB
50 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
WDRC
output (dB SPL) 120 110 100 90
+50 dB
80
+40 dB
70
+30 dB
+40 dB gain
+10 dB +0 dB
60
+20 dB
50 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
50 dB
65 dB
80 dB
linear + PC
110 100 90 80 70 60
+20 dB +10 dB +0 dB +50 dB
WDRC
Linear & WDRC aids set to have same gain at 65 dB SPL input. Note. Linear aid under-amplifies at 50 dB SPL input and over-amplifies at 80 dB SPL input
+40 dB
+30 dB
50 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Therefore need to test at different levels: 50 dB SPL input - quite speech level 65 dB SPL input - moderate speech level 80 dB SPL input - loud speech level
Multi-channel processing
Why multi-channel? different hearing losses at different frequencies different compression strategies required for different frequency ranges theoretical reasons for differing frequency response e.t.c.
Test signals
Pure-tone - single frequency component Swept-tone - pure-tone swept up or down in frequency Speech-weighted pure-tone sweep - swept-tone following the spectral shape of an average speech signal White-noise - noise signal containing equal energy at all frequencies Pink-noise - noise with energy decreasing with increasing frequency Speech-shaped noise - noise with spectral shape of an average speech signal Modulated Speech shaped noise - spectral AND temporal shape similar to that of speech
Test signals
Test signals can be either: Continuous - long(ish) duration with approximately constant amplitude Fluctuating - varying up and down in amplitude (usually designed to mimic temporal fluctuations in natural speech) Least natural: Most natural: continuous pure-tone fluctuating speech shaped noise
blooming!
extras
As well as different signal processing strategies modern hearing aids are available with many extras designed to improve their performance These also have implications for how the aids are tested and the signals used
extras
Noise suppression/cancellation Algorithms attempt to detect presence of speech and turn down the gain if no speech is present Note Need to use realistic speech like signal to perform measurements continuous noise will be suppressed, so need to have speechshaped noise with fluctuating envelope (is such a signal available?) Turn the noise reduction feature off
extras
Multi-program/memory aids Can allow 2 or more different processing algorithms to be used E.g. a second setting with extra gain for bouts of OME Note Need to know what each of the memories are supposed to do in order to test aid
extras
Directional/Multi-Microphone technology Aims to improve signal-noise ratio by picking out sounds from the front, and reducing those from other direction Note Need to be careful how aid is positioned in a test box to get accurate measurements Turn the directional microphone off!
extras
Feedback management/cancellation Notch-filters or complex feedback cancellation algorithms have been developed that can reduce feedback and allow 10-20dB extra gain. This can allow additional gain, use of vents where they are normally not possible etc. Note: awareness of notch-filters is necessary & the feed-back suppression needs to be turned off for measurement purposes (is this possible for every situation?)
Feedback Management
Dillon (2001)
Feedback Cancelling
External leakage path
Dillon (2001)
Implications
conceptual complexity - difficult to understand what the aid is doing complexity & adjustability - many different parameters to adjust to set up the aid lack of user adjustability - some nonlinear aids have no volume control - WDRC, in theory, should do away for the need for it test signal - need to chose the right test signal lack of defined standards - no clearly defined standards for measuring nonlinear aids
Likely situation for some (eg outreach or other services?): old test-box, no programming facility, cant turn off extras, only continuous pure-tone or swept pure-tone available
Summary
Signal processing Compression Fits dynamic range of sounds into comfortable range of hearing AGC Types of compression output-limiting, WDRC Multi-channel processing Implications conceptual, complexity, test-signals
References Dillon, H. (2001) Hearing Aids, Thieme Sandlin, R.E. (2000) Hearing Aid Amplification, Singular Vonlanthen, A. (2000) Hearing Instrument Technonogy, Singular Venema, T. (1998) Compression for Clinicians, Singular Killion, M.C., Staab, W. & Preeves, D. (1990) Classifying automatic signal processors. Hearing Instruments, 41(8), 24-26 Seewald, R. C (2001), A Sound Foundation Through Early Amplification 2000, Phonak AG, ISBN: 3-9522009-0-5 Seewald, R. C. & Gravel, J.C. (2002), A Sound Foundation Through Early Amplification 2001, Phonak AG, ISBN: 3-9522009-1-3 Standards BS EN 61669:2001 Electroacoustics Equipment for the measurement of real-ear acoustical characteristics of hearing aids BS ISO 12124:2001 Acoustics Procedures for the measurement of real-ear acoustical characteristics of hearing aids