Inspire
Click here to see this page in full context

Frequency Lowering

Frequency Lowering is an algorithm that is used to improve audibility of high frequency sounds while preserving sound quality, thereby improving speech understanding. The algorithm replicates in real time inaudible, high frequency, speech information to a lower frequency region where it will be audible. Frequency Lowering is designed to benefit patients with steeply-sloping, moderate to severe, high frequency hearing loss. Frequency Lowering can be enabled/disabled per memory and is only available for select products.

 

For assistance with solving patient issues regarding Frequency Lowering (e.g., /s/ sounds, lisping, etc.), see Expert Assistant.

 

Enabling/Disabling Automatically, Source and Target Regions, Bandwidth, and GainEnabling/Disabling Automatically, Source and Target Regions, Bandwidth, and Gain

 

If the patient's audiogram meets the audiometric criteria for frequency lowering and Best Fit All Memories is applied during an adult fitting, Frequency Lowering is automatically enabled for all memories except Disabled, Music, Streaming, and Stream Boost. If the patient's audiogram doesn't meet the audiometric criteria, or if the patient is pediatric, Frequency Lowering is automatically disabled for all memories. However, Frequency Lowering can be enabled manually. If Frequency Lowering is enabled, a green/yellow shaded region displays on all fitting graphs except Tinnitus. The green shaded region represents the Source Region, which is the range where high frequency sounds are identified. The yellow shaded region represents the Target Region, which is the range the identified high frequency sounds are replicated.

 

If Frequency Lowering is enabled by default, the Source and Target Regions, Frequency Lowering Bandwidth, and Frequency Lowering Gain settings are set based on the patient's hearing loss. Frequency Lowering Bandwidth is a multi-parameter adjustment, affecting both the Source and Target Regions. Seven settings are available ranging from Minimum to Maximum. A more aggressive Frequency Lowering Bandwidth can be achieved by moving the control toward Maximum. Frequency Lowering Gain can be adjusted from -5 to 5 dB for Evolv AI, Livio Edge AI, Livio AI, Livio, Picasso, Halo iQ, Muse iQ, SoundLens Synergy iQ, Halo 2, Muse, and SoundLens Synergy products and 0 to 10 dB for all other products, in 1 dB increments.

 

Speech in Loud Noise and Frequency LoweringSpeech in Loud Noise and Frequency Lowering

 

Speech in Loud Noise and Frequency Lowering cannot be enabled at the same time. If one feature is already enabled and then the other feature is enabled, a message to select the desired feature displays.

 

Spatial Hearing and Frequency LoweringSpatial Hearing and Frequency Lowering

 

Spatial Hearing and Frequency Lowering cannot be enabled at the same time. If both Spatial Hearing and Frequency Lowering meet the audiometric criteria to automatically enable both features, Spatial Hearing will take precedence. However, if Spatial Hearing is enabled and then Frequency Lowering is enabled, Spatial Hearing is automatically disabled and vice versa.

  1. Connect and select the desired hearing aid(s) to adjust via Get Started.

  2. Click on the Read Device Settings or Load a Previous Session radio button and then click Start.

  3. Click Frequency Lowering.
    Note:  Regardless of the graphical view currently selected, Real Ear Response output and High Frequency Speech Input always displays on the fitting graph while on this screen.
    Tip:  The bold green curve on the fitting graph represents the high frequency speech output. To display the high frequency speech input, which is represented in a thin green curve, click the checkbox Display High Frequency Speech Input.

  4. Click on the specific memory to adjust if applicable or click to adjust all memories simultaneously.

    Note:  If one-way memory linking is enabled , only gain and output adjustments made to *Normal will be applied simultaneously to all one-way linked memories. Custom memories created in the Thrive Hearing Control app for Evolv AI, Livio Edge AI, Livio AI, and Livio products can be adjusted during a live fitting. See Adjusting Custom Programs During a Live Fitting for more information.
    Note:  If adjusting Evolv AI, Livio Edge AI, Livio AI, Livio, Picasso, Halo iQ, Muse iQ, SoundLens Synergy iQ, Halo 2, Muse, or SoundLens Synergy products, this feature is not available for Music or tinnitus stimulus only enabled memories.

  5. Inspire automatically defaults to a binaural Select Binaural view if applicable. To adjust only the right or left hearing aid, click Select Right Only or Select Left Only.

    Note:  If fitting CROS/BiCROS devices, only the receiver aid can be adjusted, therefore, the side cannot be selected.
  6. Click the On or Off radio button to enable or disable Frequency Lowering.
    Note:  If Off is selected, Frequency Lowering Bandwidth and Gain fields are disabled.
    Note:  If viewing binaurally, both hearing aids will be enabled or disabled based on the selection. To enable or disable the right or left hearing aid only, click Select Right Only or Select Left Only and then click On or Off.
  7. Click on the radio button representing the desired Frequency Lowering Bandwidth setting.
    Note:  The Source (green) and Target (yellow) Regions expand or contract based on the setting selected.
  8. Drag the slider bars Adjust gain all right Adjust gain all left to increase or decrease the Frequency Lowering Gain per ear side or click or to increase or decrease binaurally.
QuickTIP