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Sound Manager for Evolv AI, Livio Edge AI, Livio AI, Livio, and Picasso Products

Sound Manager prioritizes speech in noise by making discrete adjustments per memory to a variety of environments and directionality and adjusts the amount of gain adaptation towards music listening per memory. The activity level, music strength, and directionality (Omni, Directional, Dynamic, and Adaptive) settings can be selected independently per memory environment. Any noise control adjustments can be demonstrated live to the patient by simply talking or playing an audio file.

 

Hearing Reality Sound Enhancement features seven automated sound classes: Music, Speech in Loud Noise, Speech in Noise, Machine, Wind, Noise, and Quiet - making it the most sophisticated and accurate classification and adaption system.

 

Sound Enhancement and Situational Sound ManagementSound Enhancement and Situational Sound Management

 

Speech in Noise reduces noise and preserves speech to improve the patient's experience in noise. Its fast-acting algorithm is active 100% of the time to reduce the effects of noise even between the pauses and syllables of speech.

 

Speech in Loud Noise is a noise reduction feature that combines inputs from both hearing aids to suppress noise on one side while prioritizing hearing on the opposite side. These asymmetrical adjustments make listening more comfortable and speech more understandable. This feature is inherently Ear to Ear, therefore, it's automatically enabled and cannot be disabled. In addition, 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.

 

Hearing Reality manages the layers of sound using real-world signals and mimicking the natural process for reducing unwanted sounds and augmenting wanted ones to help make hearing effortless.

 

Spatial HearingSpatial Hearing

 

Spatial Hearing targets the high-frequency information provided by the CIC and IIC microphone location in the ear canal. By translating this information into a frequency range that is audible, patients have access to improved hearing, sound quality and environmental awareness – bringing back the lost sense of presence and connection to their world that many hearing aid wearers miss. This feature is only available if fitting formula e-STAT AI was selected and/or Spatial Hearing was enabled in Inspire version 2019.0 or earlier.

 

If the patient's audiogram meets the audiometric criteria for spatial hearing and Best Fit All Memories is applied during an adult fitting, Spatial Hearing is automatically enabled for all memories except Disabled, Telephone, Autophone, Telecoil, Autocoil, Loop, Music, Streaming, and Stream Boost. If the patient's audiogram doesn't meet the audiometric criteria, or if the patient is pediatric, Spatial Hearing is automatically disabled for all memories. However, Spatial Hearing can be enabled manually. If Spatial Hearing is enabled, a icon appears in the upper left hand corner of most fitting graphs.

 

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.

 

Directionality and Ear to EarDirectionality and Ear to Ear

 

Directionality improves speech understanding in noisy situations through the use of state-of-the art directional microphone technology.

 

Ear to Ear enhances sound quality and reduces listening effort by automatically adjusting synced wireless hearing aids to facilitate the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and comfort in any listening situation. Directionality (Adaptive and Dynamic Directionality) features up to 24 bands of independent null steering that flexibly direct the polar pattern null towards the largest source of noise, providing improved speech protection in difficult listening situations, and Hearing Reality (Wind and Machine) enhance comfort when noise is present but speech is absent. Ear to Ear is available on all premium, high, and mid wireless products and is automatically enabled in all environments and memories.

 

In order for the Ear to Ear feature to function within a specific environment and memory, the adaptive feature must be enabled in the memory for both hearing aids. In addition, Ear to Ear can only be enabled within the specific environment and memory when the activity level for each hearing aid is 1 or greater. The activity level within the specific environment and memory can be different per ear side as long as neither side is set to Off.

  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 Sound Manager.
    Note:  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 but must be selected first prior to accessing Sound Manager. See Adjusting Custom Memories During a Live Fitting for more information.

  4. 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.
  5. To increase or decrease the amount of adaptation in noisy and quiet environments, click on the cell to adjust and then click or , or click details below Sound Enhancement and a pop-up window displays.
  6. Click on the specific memory to adjust if applicable.
  7. Click on the radio button representing the desired amount of adaptation in each environment environment.
    Field Name Description Details
    Speech in Loud Noise Denotes whether or not to combine inputs from both hearing aids to suppress noise on one side while prioritizing hearing on the opposite side for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is only available in select memories. This feature is only available in a binaural fitting for select products. The setting must be the same per memory and ear side. The default is Off for all memories except Restaurant and Crowd. If Speech in Noise is Off, this feature and field are disabled.
    Speech in Noise Indicates the desired amount of adaptation in environments with noise for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is only available in select memories. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the levels available. If levels Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If levels Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If levels Off/On display, the default is On. The amount of adaptation that each level will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button. If Speech in Loud Noise is enabled, the setting must be the same per memory and ear side.
    Quiet Indicates the desired amount of adaptation in quiet environments for the specific memory or all memories if linked. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the levels available. If levels Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If levels Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If levels Off/On display, the default is On. The amount of expansion that each level will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button.
  8. Click Go Live to demonstrate any noise control adjustments.
    Note:  This button is only enabled during a live fitting for select products and for all memories except Disabled.
  9. Begin talking to the patient.
    Note:  When the hearing aid(s) detects sound in a specific environment and begins adaptation, the input monitor activates. The animation will extend from the left to the right but will never exceed the selected setting.
  10. Click Go Live again to stop the demonstration.
    Tip:  To play an audio file, click Media Player on the Inspire Toolbar. Audio files cannot be played during Go Live demonstrations.
  11. Click Close to close the pop-up window.
  12. To increase or decrease the amount of adaptation in a specific environment, click on the cell to adjust and then click or , or click details below Situational Sound Management and a pop-up window displays.
  13. Click on the specific memory to adjust if applicable.
  14. Click on the radio button representing the desired amount of adaptation in each environment environment.
    Field Name Description Details
    Transients Indicates the desired amount of adaptation in environments with transient noise for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is only available in select memories. For CROS/BiCROS products, this feature is only available for memories assigned Hearing Aid Only mode. This feature is only available for select products. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the levels available. If levels Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If levels Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If levels Off/On display, the default is On. The Loop memory defaults to Off. The amount of adaptation that each level will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button.
    Wind Indicates the desired amount of adaptation in environments with wind for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is not available for Telecoil, Autocoil, or Loop memories. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the levels available. If levels Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If levels Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If levels Off/On display, the default is On. The Music and Stream Boost memories default to Off. The amount of adaptation that each level will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button.
    Machine Indicates the desired amount of adaptation in environments with machine noise for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is not available for Telecoil, Autocoil, or Loop memories. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the levels available. If levels Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If levels Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If levels Off/On display, the default is On. The Music and Stream Boost memories default to Off. The amount of adaptation that each level will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button.
    Auto Music Indicates the desired amount of adaptation toward music listening for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is only available for select products and is not available for the Music memory or custom memories. Based on the hearing aid connected determines the strengths available. If strengths Off to 4 display, the default is 3. If strengths Off to 2 display, the default is 2. If strengths Off/On display, the default is On. The Loop and Stream Boost memories default to Off. The amount of adaptation that each strength will apply displays in a tool tip by pointing to the radio button. Click for more information on this feature.
  15. Repeat steps 8-10 to demonstrate any adjustments if desired.
  16. Click Close to close the pop-up window.
  17. To adjust the time constants for a specific environment, click on the words Wind and/or Machine and a pop-up window displays.
  18. Click on the radio button representing the desired time constant time constant.
    Field Name Description Details
    Wind Time Constants Indicates how quickly the hearing aid(s) should reach the specified wind gain reduction for all memories. This feature is only available for select products. The options available are Slower, Medium, and Faster. The default is Medium.
    Machine Time Constants Indicates how quickly the hearing aid(s) should reach the specified machine noise gain reduction for all memories. This feature is only available for select products. The options available are Slower, Medium, and Faster. The default is Medium.
  19. To change the directional setting, click on the cell to adjust and then click or , or click details below Directionality and a pop-up window displays to configure the directional setting and adjust the switching threshold and/or time constants.
  20. Click on the specific memory to adjust if applicable.
  21. Click on the radio button representing the desired directionality and/or switching threshold directionality and/or switching threshold, and check or uncheck Directionality Plus to enable or disable this feature.
    * For Evolv AI, Livio Edge AI, Livio AI, and Livio products, the settings must be the same per memory in a binaural fitting.
    Field Name Description Details
    Directionality Mode* Selects the directional setting for the specific memory or all memories if linked. This feature is not available for Disabled, Telephone, Autophone, Telecoil, Autocoil, or Loop memories. This feature is only available if the hearing aid connected supports a directional system. The settings available are OmniOmni(Maintains an omni directional mode.), DirectionalDirectional (Maintains a fixed directional mode.), DynamicDynamic (Automatically switches to a fixed directional response in loud environments and to an omni response in quiet environments.), and AdaptiveAdaptive (In noisy environments, automatically switches to a directional response then adaptively tracks and reduces the dominant noise source to maximize speech. In quiet environments, it automatically switches to an omni response.) (select products only). The default for Normal memory is either Dynamic or Adapative, depending on the hearing aid connected.
    Immersion Directionality* Denotes whether or not to recreate the acoustics of the pinna by adding a more natural, high-frequency directional response whenever the hearing aid is in an omnidirectional state. This feature is not available for Disabled, Telephone, Autophone, Telecoil, Autocoil, or Loop memories. Click for more information on this feature. This feature is only available for select products. This checkbox is only available if Adaptive, Dynamic, or Omni is selected for Directionality and the default is unchecked.
    Directionality Plus Denotes whether or not to increase the adaptation amount for Speech and Noise in three technology levels (up to 20 dB in the premium products, up to 15 dB in the high products, and up to 10 dB in the mid products) and reach the maximum adaptation threshold at 80 dB SPL. Click for more information on this feature. This feature is only available for select products. This checkbox is only available if Dynamic or Adaptive is selected for Directionality and the default is unchecked.
    Switching* Indicates how quickly the hearing aid(s) should switch to automatic directional mode and reach the specified directional settings for applicable memories. This feature is only available for select products. The options available are Slower, Normal, and Faster. The default is Normal.
  22. Click Close to close the pop-up window.
  23. To enable or disable spatial hearing, click on the cell to adjust and then click or .
    Note:  This feature is only available for Picasso CIC and IIC products if fitting formula e-STAT AI was selected and/or Spatial Hearing was enabled in Inspire version 2019.0 or earlier.
  24. Check or uncheck Ear to Ear to enable or disable this feature for the specific environment specific environment if applicable.
    Field Name Description Details
    Speech in Loud Noise Ear to Ear This feature is inherently Ear to Ear, therefore, it's automatically enabled. This feature is only available in a binaural fitting for select products.
    Wind Ear to Ear Denotes whether or not to automatically enhance comfort when wind noise is present but speech is absent for all memories. This feature is available on all premium, high, and mid wireless products. If selected, which is checked by default, communication between the left and right hearing aids improves patient comfort in wind noise by ensuring that both devices make coordinated changes in response to the sound environment.
    Machine Ear to Ear Denotes whether or not to automatically enhance comfort when machine noise is present but speech is absent for all memories. This feature is available on all premium, high, and mid wireless products. If selected, which is checked by default, binaural communication between the hearing aids provides more symmetrical noise reduction and increases patient comfort in environments with machine noise.
    Auto Music Ear to Ear Denotes whether or not to automatically optimize sound quality when music is present but speech is absent for all memories. This feature is available on all premium, high, and mid wireless products. If selected, which is checked by default, gain adaptation is applied to both hearing aids when music is detected.
    Directionality Ear to Ear Denotes whether or not to automatically facilitate an optimal signal-to-noise ratio when speech is present for all memories. This feature is available on all premium, high, and mid wireless directional products and only works if both the left and right hearing aids are set to the same 'Directionality' mode. If selected, which is checked by default, wireless communication between the right and left hearing aids improves the ability of the directional system to adapt to changes in the listening environment and to ensure that speech signals are always preserved binaurally. The system detects the direction of the signal source, compares the SNR between the right and left ears, and chooses the side with the better SNR to determine the directional focus for the hearing aids. If no speech is detected, the system adapts to provide the most comfortable listening setting. If Speech in Loud Noise is enabled in any memory, this feature is checked automatically and cannot be unchecked.
    Note:  Ear to Ear is enabled/disabled based on the settings for Memory 1 but any change applies to all memory environments. Although Ear to Ear is automatically enabled for all active memory environments, setting any applicable activity level to Off, or setting directionality to Omni or Directional will disable Ear to Ear in that memory. This feature is not available for monaural fittings if the hearing aid has never been paired, CROS/BiCROS, or when simulating one wireless hearing aid.

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