Presented at the COMSOL Conference 2009 Milan

Improving the e Performance of Hearing Aids A Using Acoustic Simulations

Comsol conferen nce, Milan, 2009 Mads J. Herring Jensen

Contents
1. Introduction 2 Directional 2. Di ti l microphones i h 3. Motivation 4. Simulations 5. Conclusions

Re(Peit)

Introduction
What is a hearing aid?

c op o es crophones

Pmic
l d loudspeaker k

PED=GelectGacoustPmic

Directional micro ophones p

Spatial noise reduction

Two microphone p system y ( (d delay y and subtract) )

Pmic

Motivation What do we w want to model?

ideal: in free field

true: on ear/head

Directional patte p ern of head

Verification of model with KEMAR K mannequin

HR()

f = 500 Hz
-160
18015

f = 1000 Hz
160 140
-140 5 120 -120 -5 100 -100 80 60 -80 -60 -40 -20 0
18015

Results
Directional pattern of head

-160

18015

160 140

-140 5 -120
-5

12

-100 -80 -60 -40 -20

0
18015

60 40 20

40 20

f = 2000 Hz
-160 -140 140
5 160 140 120 -5 -120 -140 140

f = 4000 Hz
-160 160 140 5 -5 100 -100 80 60 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20

0 20 40

12

60

Hearing g aid in fre ee field

bidir, f = 4000 Hz 180 5 160 -160 -140 0 -120 -5 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 40 100 80 60 120 140

back

ront

Pf Pb bidirectional

20

Hearing g aid in fre ee field

incoming scatte ered total

eikx

Ps f = 500 00 Hz H

Hearing g aid on KEMAR K

Omni for f = 2000 Hz
-160 -140 0 -120 -10 -100 -80 80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 0 100 80 60 120
180 10 160

Bidir for f = 2000 Hz

-160
40 14
18010

160 140 120 100 80 60

-140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

0 -10 -20

40 20

Pf +Pb

Pf Pb

Conclusions
Developed a tool for simula ating directional characteristics of hearing g aids in fre ee field and when placed p on a head. p ed to lengthy g y and Save a lot of time compare complicated measurements. y benchmarking g and ch haracterization of new Early hearing aid designs. h on the directional Study the influence of the head microphone system. Input fo or the DSP guys.

Thank k you!