METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING A PERSON'S ABILITY TO SUPPRESS NON-WANTED AUDITORY PERCEPTS

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a method for reducing a listener's task-irrelevant auditory perception, the method comprising providing a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta gamma and/or theta activity and providing a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity. The listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is measured and if the measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is increased by the provision of the alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener. This results in the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity being increased, resulting in facilitating reduction of task-irrelevant auditory perception, such as the auditory perception of noise or tinnitus, and thereby also increasing the listener's ability to understand speech under adverse listening conditions. The present disclosure further suggests using the listener's measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity to judge if the listener is ready to understand speech, and if this is not the case to delay a speech signal until a sufficiently high activity is present.

主权项

1. A method for reducing a listener's task-irrelevant auditory perception using a hearing instrument or system, such as a hearing aid, comprising at least one input transducer configured to pick up the sound field in which the instrument or system is situated thereby providing an input signal, a signal processor configured to process the input signal, and an output transducer outputting the processed input signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing in the hearing instrument or system a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; providing in the hearing instrument or system a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha activity; with said measuring device or system, establishing a first measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if the first measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, increasing the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity by the provision of said alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener, and establishing a delayed version of said input signal, after a defined time interval establishing a second measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if by the second measure it is determined that the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is at or above a predefined threshold providing said delayed version of the input signal either with or without further processing to an output transducer in said device.