Automatic situation detection and classification
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Although daily life is comprised of many different hearing situations, most of these are the same for everyone.
We can classify these similar hearing situations to a specific description.
The following table classifies typical hearing situations with or without hearing instruments.
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| Situation |
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Example |
| Speech in quiet environment |
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A conversation in a quiet room |
| Speech with background noise |
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A discussion among a large group of people |
| Fluctuating background noise |
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Noise from children playing |
| Stationary background noise |
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Interior noise in an automobile or airplane |
| Wind noise |
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Noise caused by air movement in microphone of hearing instrument |
| Music |
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Listening to music in a concert hall or at home |
By distinguishing specific characteristics of incoming noise, the hearing instrument determines
whether an omnidirectional microphone or a directional microphone should be used. For example,
if the hearing instrument user is in a quiet environment, the omnidirectional microphone is
selected to make as many sounds in the environment audible as possible. In contrast, if background
noise is present, the directional microphone is used instead of the omnidirectional microphone.
Noise from behind or on the side of the user is attenuated, so the user can better understand the
speaker in front of him/her. Instead of fast switching, the "soft-fading" between microphones makes
certain for the optimum in hearing comfort.
Directional microphones are an effective aid, especially when background noise is present. Unfortunately,
they are very sensitive to wind. Wind causes additional noise directly in the hearing instrument and
can also impair speech intelligibility. The modern Siemens hearing instruments detect this situation
and fade from the directional microphone over to the omnidirectional microphone, noticeably reducing
wind noise.
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