Method of processing a voice segment and hearing aid
A method of processing a voice segment includes checking whether a voice segment is a vowel segment. If the voice segment is not a vowel segment, then the process checks whether the voice segment is a high frequency consonant or a low frequency consonant. If the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, then the voice segment will be processed to lower its frequency.
1. A method of processing a voice segment in a hearing aid comprising an audio receiver and an audio processing module, comprising:
receiving in said hearing aid an input voice, and dividing said input at least one voice segment;
in said audio processing module, checking whether said voice segment is a vowel segment;
if the voice segment is not a vowel segment:
checking whether the voice segment is a high frequency consonant or a low frequency consonant; and
if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, processing the voice segment to lower its frequency.
2. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process of lowering the frequency comprises a frequency compression process or a frequency shifting process.
3. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the process of lowering the frequency comprises performing the frequency compression process and the frequency shifting process on a high frequency section of the voice segment.
4. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the high frequency section includes a range of at least 4,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz.
5. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the voice segment is determined to be a high frequency consonant if at least 50% of the total energy the voice segment is over 2,500 Hz.
6. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the step of checking whether the voice segment is a vowel segment includes checking whether the voice segment has a harmonic phenomenon.
7. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 6 , wherein if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, the method further comprises performing an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
8. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 7 , wherein if the voice segment is a low frequency consonant, the method further comprises performing an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
9. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, the method further comprises performing an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
10. The method of processing a voice segment as claimed in claim 9 , wherein if the voice segment is a low frequency consonant, the method further comprises performing an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
11. A hearing aid, comprising:
an audio receiver, configured to receive an input voice;
an audio processing module, electrically connected to the audio receiver; and
a speaker;
wherein the audio processing module is configured to divide the input voice into a plurality of voice segments; check whether each voice segment is a vowel segment; if the voice segment is not a vowel segment, check whether the voice segment is a high frequency consonant or a low frequency consonant, and if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, processing the voice segment to lower its frequency; and
the speaker is arranged to output the plurality of processed or unprocessed voice segments.
12. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the process of lowering the frequency comprises a frequency compression process or a frequency shifting process.
13. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the process of lowering the frequency comprises performing the frequency compression process and the frequency shifting process on a high frequency section of the voice segment.
14. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the high frequency section includes a range of at least 4,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz.
15. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the voice segment is determined to be a high frequency consonant if at least 50% of the total energy of the voice segment is over 2,500 Hz.
16. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the process of checking whether the voice segment is a vowel segment includes checking whether the voice segment has a harmonic phenomenon.
17. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 16 , wherein if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, the hearing aid further performs an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
18. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 17 , wherein if the voice segment is a low frequency consonant, the hearing aid further performs an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
19. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 12 , wherein if the voice segment is a high frequency consonant, the hearing aid further performs an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.
20. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 19 , wherein if the voice segment is a low frequency consonant, the hearing aid further performs an energy amplification process or a voice extending process on the voice segment.