Hearing assistive system with low power interface

1. A hearing assistive device, comprising:

a low power radio frequency receiver configured to receive a communication signal including an audio signal transmitted from a communications interface device, wherein the communication signal is generated by the communications interface device based on a signal received by the communications interface device using a first communication protocol and converted by the communications interface device into a format recognizable by the hearing assistive device, and wherein the communication signal is transmitted to the low power radio frequency receiver using a low power radio frequency transmission protocol that is different than the first communication protocol; and

a processor configured to extract an audible signal from the received communication signal and manipulate the audible signal extracted according to a criterion associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

2. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device is determined by the user.

3. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device includes a hearing limitation associated with the user.

4. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , wherein the communication signal is generated for transmission to multiple hearing assistive devices.

5. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , wherein the signal received using the first communication protocol is received from a wireless communication device.

6. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker, wherein the processor is configured to cause the speaker to output the audible signal manipulated.

7. The hearing assistive device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a microphone; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a microphone signal received from the microphone to a wireless communications device.

8. The hearing assistive device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to process the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal to the wireless communications device.

9. The hearing assistive device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to process the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal in accordance with a hearing deficiency of the user.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by a low power radio frequency receiver of a hearing assistive device, a communication signal including an audio signal transmitted from a communications interface device, wherein the communication signal is generated by the communications interface device based on a signal received by the communications interface device using a first communication protocol and converted by the communications interface device into a format recognizable by the hearing assistive device, and wherein the communication signal is transmitted to the low power radio frequency receiver using a low power radio frequency transmission protocol that is different than the first communication protocol;

extracting, by a processor included in the hearing assistive device, an audible signal from the received communication signal; and

manipulating, by the processor, the extracted audible signal according to a criterion associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device is determined by the user.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device includes a hearing limitation associated with the user.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communication signal is generated for transmission to multiple hearing assistive devices.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the signal received using the first communication protocol is received from a wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising causing a speaker of the hearing assistive device to output the audible signal manipulated.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a microphone signal received from a microphone of the hearing assistive device to a wireless communications device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising processing the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal to the wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the microphone signal is processed prior to transmitting the microphone signal in accordance with the hearing deficiencies of the user.

19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising establishing a communications link with the communications interface.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising transmitting control signals to the communications interface via the communications link.