Successful hearing aid users and their audiologists know that regular follow-up appointments are de rigueur to monitor hearing ability and ear canal health; adjust hearing instruments to match hearing status and wearer needs; and check instrument performance against manufacturer’s specs.
That last step is important but routine and a bit boring. It also raises questions, at least in this audiologist’s mind: How to check that noise cancelling mics are aligned and functioning properly? How to pinpoint when and for how long an instrument has been out of spec? How often to check? What if the patient drops the aids on the way out the door following the appointment? Will the mics be out of spec till the next appointment in 3 months? Will s/he notice or simply accommodate to substandard hearing performance?
Google’s patent #11026034 could eventually save the day for device wearers by automating spec checking, thereby ensuring optimal device performance on an ongoing basis and checking off one box that used to require a professional and an office visit:
“..audio devices can undergo changes during their lifespan, thus shifting the original specifications and affecting the user’s listening experiences over time. The one-time calibration that is performed during production does not sufficiently ensure audio quality over an extended period. Thus, improved techniques for maintaining audio quality over the life of an audio device are desirable.”
The Patent List for June 2021
|
Description |
Patent Number |
Assignee |
Issued |
|
System and method for enhancing the binaural representation for hearing-impaired subjects |
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education (Pittsburgh, PA) & Arizona Board of Regents Acting for and on Behalf of Arizona State University (Scottsdale, AZ) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Systems and methods for noise cancelation in a listening area |
Dish Network LLC (Englewood, CO) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Portable listening device with sensors |
Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Wireless earbud |
Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Ear-worn electronic device incorporating an antenna actively loaded using a non-foster circuit |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Audio streaming system comprising an audio streamer and at least one ear worn device |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid with a flexible carrier antenna and related method |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Earpiece with canal microphone, ambient microphone and receiver |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Magnet positioning in an external device |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Electromagnetic transducer with specific internal geometry |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
|
|
|
System and method for self-calibrating audio listening devices |
Google LLC (Mountain View, CA) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
Assistive listening system that uses sound waves for device pairing |
Galaxy Next Generation Inc (Toccoa, GA) |
6/01/2021 |
|
|
System for hearing sensitivity testing and auto reinforcement |
BITwave Ptd Ltd (Singapore, SG) |
6/08/2021 |
|
|
System and method for ear-arranged transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation |
The General Hospital Corporation (Boston, MA) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
Headphone off-ear detection |
Avnera Corporation (Hillsboro, OR) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
Sensory-based environmental adaption |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
Method for providing sound to persons during a talk and system for performing the method |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
Audition of hearing device settings, associated system and hearing device |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
System and method for realistic rotation of stereo or binaural audio |
Schaefer, Philip (Weaverville, NC) |
6/8/2021 |
|
|
Inductively chargeable earbud case |
Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Solubilized compositions for controlled proliferation of stem cells / generating inner ear hair cells using a GSK3 inhibitor: I |
Frequency Therapeutics Inc (Lexington, MA) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating hearing loss comprising oat extract as an active ingredient |
Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University (Gwangju, KR), Chonnam National University Hospital (Gwangju, KR), Republic of Korea (Management: Rural Development Administration) (Jeollabuk-Do, KR) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Electromagnetic transducer with dual flux |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Wireless earbud charging and communication systems and methods |
Royal Isle Design LLC (Howell, MI) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Optical-based sensor for implantable prosthesis |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Auditory prosthesis system including sound processor apparatus with position sensor |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Cochlear hearing device with cable antenna |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Binaural reproduction of surround sound using a virtualized line array |
Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Charging case for hearing aid |
Xiamen Retone Hearing Technology Co Inc (Xiamen, CN) |
6/15/2021 |
|
|
Earbud |
Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Sound processing apparatus utilizing an electroencephalography (EEG) signal |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Hearing systems and methods for operating a hearing system |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device with a microphone structure |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Head-wearable apparatus to generate binaural audio |
Snap Inc (Santa Monica, CA) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Ear tip with three layer sleeves |
Charjenpro (Los Angeles, CA) |
6/22/2021 |
|
|
Systems, devices, and methods for determining hearing ability and treating hearing loss |
Applicant: Anderson, Dean Gregory (Vernal, UT) |
6/29/2021 |
|
|
Ear cleaning device |
Quest Products LLC (Pleasant Prairie, WI) |
6/29/2021 |
|
|
Fixation system for an implantable medical device |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
6/29/2021 |
|
|
Methods for promoting reinnervation of auditory hair cells |
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary (Boston, MA) |
6/29/2021 |
|
|
Implantable middle ear transducer having diagnostic detection sensor |
Envoy Medical Corporation (White Bear Lake, MN) |
6/29/2021 |
|
|
Multiple transmission network |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK)
|
6/29/2021 |
Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, owned and operated a dispensing audiology practice in Tucson and was active in management of HearingHealthMatters.org through 2017. She holds BA degrees in Communication Sciences, Psychology and Economics; MA in Communication Disorders; PhD in Hearing Sciences. Following post-doctoral work at Max Planck Institute (Munich, DE) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston), she joined the Stanford medical school faculty as director of audiology. She has authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles and taught Marketing and Practice Management in a variety of academic settings. She continues to consult and write on topics related to hearing health care vis-à-vis consumer demands, professional training, technological advancement, capital investment, industry consolidation, regulatory control, product and service distribution, and strategic pricing.
