Multiband compression and contrast-enhancing frequency shaping in hearing aids

Authors

  • Ian C. Bruce Department of Electrical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ont. L8S 4K1, Canada
  • Shahab U. Ansari Department of Electrical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ont. L8S 4K1, Canada
  • Harjeet S. Bajaj Department of Electrical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ont. L8S 4K1, Canada
  • Kamran Mustafa Department of Electrical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ont. L8S 4K1, Canada

Keywords:

Algorithms, Amplification, Bandwidth, Computational complexity, Speech processing, Synchronization, Tuning, Contrast-enhancement frequency shaping (CEFS), Filterbank implementation, Formant-tracking, Multiband compression

Abstract

A hearing-aid amplification scheme that uses a formant-tracking algorithm and time-varying filter to produce improved contrast enhancement between formants is presented. The combination of contrast-enhancing frequency shaping (CEFS) amplification and multiband compression in a single frequency-domain filterbank implementation is also studied. CEFS compensates for the broadened tuning curves and elevated thresholds of an impaired ear by adjusting the relative amplitudes of the formats without distorting the spectral envelope between the formats. The new multiband-CEFS (M-CEFS) algorithm utilizes a formant tracker to direct the gain-frequency response of a time-varying filter.

Additional Files

Published

2004-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Bruce IC, Ansari SU, Bajaj HS, Mustafa K. Multiband compression and contrast-enhancing frequency shaping in hearing aids. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2004 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Sep. 12];32(3):62-3. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/1628

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 3 (2004)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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