Assistive listening device and system and method for providing hearing assistance

An assistive listening device comprising:

• a microphone arrangement for capturing an input microphone audio signal from a sound environment, such as a user's voice;
• a microphone signal processing unit for processing the input microphone audio signal so as to generate a processed microphone audio signal;
• a USB interface for connecting to a communication device, the USB interface comprising a USB audio input port to receive a USB input audio signal from the communication device and a USB audio output port to transmit a USB output audio signal to the communication device;
• a USB audio signal processing unit for processing the USB input audio signal so as to generate a processed USB input audio signal;
• a wireless interface for transmitting an output audio signal via a wireless link to a hearing device;
• and
• a control unit for selecting one of a first streaming mode, a second streaming mode, and a third streaming mode and for operating the assistive listening device according to the selected streaming mode, wherein
• in the first streaming mode the processed microphone audio signal is supplied to the wireless interface as the output audio signal, with the first streaming mode being selected during times when no USB connection at the USB interface is detected;
• in the second streaming mode the processed USB input audio signal is supplied to the wireless interface as the output audio signal, with the second streaming mode being selected during times when a USB connection to the communication device is detected and the communication device does not request a USB output audio signal;
• in the third streaming mode the processed USB input audio signal is supplied to the wireless interface as the output audio signal and the processed microphone audio signal is supplied to the USB audio output port as the USB output audio signal, with the third streaming mode being selected when a USB connection to the communication device is detected and the communication device requests a USB output audio signal.