Hearing aid for people having asymmetric hearing loss

#The present invention relates to devices for aiding in hearing, including external hearing aids, BAHA devices, cochlear implant devices, and other hearing-related devices, and more particularly, to a device for aiding in hearing that is especially useful for people with an asymmetric hearing loss. The device can comprise a standalone hearing aid, or can comprise a device useable in conjunction with an external hearing aid, or cochlear implant. Unless used in a specific reference to an external hearing aid, the term hearing aid as used in this document should be interpreted broadly enough to encompass all forms of devices that enable a user to hear better.

#Hearing loss is not uncommon in persons, who are either born with a hearing loss or who develop a hearing loss later in life. When a hearing loss develops, the hearing loss is not always equal bilaterally. In particular, it is not unusual that one ear will have less hearing loss than the other, and therefore have better auditory acuity than the relatively more hearing-impaired other ear. For example, someone may have a 70% hearing loss in their left ear, but only a 30% hearing loss in their right ear.

#Also, unusual cases exist where a tumor has destroyed or damaged one ear, although the person has an undamaged, normal opposite ear which results in an asymmetric auditory acuity between the two ears. In certain instances, the hearing loss in one ear can be very profound, so that the person for example, has an auditory acuity in a bad ear that may be only 10% to 20% of the auditory acuity of a “normal ear.”

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a user having a unilateral hearing loss, without correction, either via the prior art, or the instant invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a user having prior art CROS hearing aid system used for treating a unilateral hearing loss;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a user having a CROS type hearing aid system of the present invention to help treat a unilateral hearing loss;

#The description that follows describes, illustrates and exemplifies one or more particular embodiments of the present invention in accordance with its principles. This description is not provided to limit the invention to the embodiment or embodiments described herein, but rather to explain and teach the principles of the invention in such a way to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand these principles and, with that understanding, be able to apply them to practice not only the embodiment or embodiments described herein, but also other embodiments that may come to mind in accordance with these principles.

#The scope of the present invention is intended to cover all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

#It should be noted that in the description and drawings, like or substantially similar elements may be labeled with the same reference numerals. However, sometimes these elements may be labeled with differing reference numbers, such as, for example, in cases where such labeling facilitates a clearer description. Additionally, the drawings set forth herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances, proportions may have been exaggerated to more clearly depict certain features. Such labeling and drawing practices do not necessarily implicate an underlying substantive purpose.