Sound communication system including microphone and personal audio output device

A communication system for assisting listeners with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by transmitting sound from a person speaking to one or more of said listeners, the system comprising:

• a microphone configured to capture sound from the person speaking;
• at least one personal audio output devices respectively configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners, wherein said at least one personal audio output device is in operative communication with the microphone to receive the sound therefrom;
• wherein the at least one personal audio output device comprises:
• a housing configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners,
• a speaker assembly supported by the housing and arranged to be located adjacent ears of the respective listener for emitting sound to the listener's ears;
• a captured sound module in the housing and operatively connected to the microphone so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the sound captured by the microphone, wherein the captured sound module is configured to form a first sound signal including the sound captured by the microphone;
• a sound generation module in the housing and operatively connected to an audio source storing one or more prerecorded audio files, wherein the sound generation module is configured to output a second sound signal from the audio source which is audible to the respective listener;
• and
• a mixing module in the housing and operatively connected to the captured sound module and the sound generation module so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the first and second sound signals,
• wherein an output of the mixing module is operatively connected to the speaker assembly to emit the first and second sound signals to the respective listener;
• wherein the sound generation module and the mixing module form a system for assisting the listener with said neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by adding to the first sound signal the audible second sound signal to form a combined simultaneous sound signal including both the first and second sound signals which are both audible to the listener;
• wherein the second sound signal is selected to provide said assistance to the listener with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by superimposing the second sound signal which contains focus enhancing sounds for the listener on the first sound signal from the person speaking;
• and wherein there is provided an arrangement for adjusting volumes of the first and second sound signals independently.

A communication system for assisting listeners with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by transmitting sound from a person speaking to one or more of said listeners, the system comprising:

• a microphone configured to capture sound from the person speaking;
• at least one personal audio output devices respectively configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners, wherein said at least one personal audio output device is in operative communication with the microphone to receive the sound therefrom;
• wherein the at least one personal audio output device comprises:
• a housing configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners,
• a speaker assembly supported by the housing and arranged to be located adjacent ears of the respective listener for emitting sound to the listener's ears;
• a captured sound module in the housing and operatively connected to the microphone so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the sound captured by the microphone, wherein the captured sound module is configured to form a first sound signal including the sound captured by the microphone;
• a sound generation module in the housing and operatively connected to an audio source storing one or more prerecorded audio files, wherein the sound generation module is configured to output a second sound signal from the audio source which is audible to the respective listener;
• and
• a mixing module in the housing and operatively connected to the captured sound module and the sound generation module so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the first and second sound signals,
• wherein an output of the mixing module is operatively connected to the speaker assembly to emit the first and second sound signals to the respective listener;
• wherein the sound generation module and the mixing module form a system for assisting the listener with said neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by adding to the first sound signal the audible second sound signal to form a combined simultaneous sound signal including both the first and second sound signals which are both audible to the listener;
• wherein the second sound signal is selected to comprise focus enhancing sounds including at least one of (i) coloured noise and (ii) theta brain wave audio signals and to provide thereby said assistance to the listener with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by superimposing the second sound signal on the first sound signal from the person speaking;
• and wherein there is provided an arrangement for adjusting volumes of the first and second sound signals independently.

A method for assisting a plurality of listeners with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety comprising:

• providing a microphone configured to capture sound from a person speaking;
• providing at least one personal audio output device respectively configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners,
• wherein the at least one personal audio output device is in operative communication with the microphone to receive the sound therefrom;
• wherein each of the at least one personal audio output device comprises:
• a housing configured to be worn by a respective one of the listeners,
• a speaker assembly supported by the housing and arranged to be located adjacent ears of the respective listener for emitting sound to the listener's ears;
• a captured sound module in the housing and operatively connected to the microphone so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the sound captured by the microphone, wherein the captured sound module is configured to form a first sound signal including the sound captured by the microphone;
• a sound generation module in the housing and operatively connected to an audio source storing one or more prerecorded audio files, wherein the sound generation module is configured to output a second sound signal from the audio source which is audible to the respective listener;
• and
• a mixing module in the housing and operatively connected to the captured sound module and the sound generation module so as to be configured to receive, as input thereto, the first and second sound signals,
• wherein an output of the mixing module is operatively connected to the speaker assembly to emit the first and second sound signals to the respective listener;
• and assisting the listener with said neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by mixing the first sound signal and the audible second sound signal to form a combined simultaneous sound signal including both the first and second sound signals which are both audible to the listener and by selecting a content of the second sound signal to include focus enhancing sounds so as to provide said assistance to the listener with neurodiversity, mental health issues and/or anxiety by superimposing the second sound signal on the first sound signal from the person speaking;
• and adjusting volumes of the first and second sound signals independently.