Digital acoustic signal processor esp. for hearing aid - provides choice of reprodn. of speech in real time or at speed adapted to hearing defect

摘要

The signal picked up by a microphone (2) is amplified and digitised (11) for storage in semiconductor memory (14) and processing (12) which involves improvement of acoustic properties (121) and low-speed sound reproduction (122). A controller (4) enables the user to select between real-time and time-expanded processing of the stored digital signals before they are reconverted to analogue form and amplified (13) to the level required to drive an earphone (3). ADVANTAGE - Hearing characteristic of elderly person with degraded time resolution can be compensated by reproduction of digitised stored speech at slower rate.