Method and system for training voice patterns
One example embodiment of the present disclosure includes method and system to improve communication comprising an assembly fixedly positioned during use in close proximity to a user's ear. The assembly includes an accelerometer to detect the initiation and duration of the user's speech and an output presentation system. The output presentation system comprises a non-occlusive ear fitting that presents unintelligible noise that is unrelated to the sound-frequency or intonation of the user's current speech. The unintelligible noise is presented to the patient at a level less than 85 dB. The system further comprises a control arrangement to maintain presentation of the noise substantially throughout the detected duration of the user's speech, but substantially not at other times.
1. A voice enhancement device comprising:
an earpiece configured to be positioned in or near an ear of a user;
a microcontroller operatively coupled to the earpiece;
an accelerometer operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect speech by the user and provide an output signal to the microcontroller,
wherein the microcontroller has at least a first state in which multitalker babble is retrieved and provided to the earpiece in response to the received output signal from the accelerometer when the received output signal is above a reference level configured to indicate detected speech by the user, wherein the multitalker babble is retrieved and provided to the earpiece at all levels of detected speech by the user, and a second state without the retrieval and provision of the multitalker babble when the received output signal is below the reference level indicating an absence of detected speech by the user.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the multitalker babble is provided at a level less than 85 db.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the multitalker babble is adjustable.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece comprises a non-occlusive ear fitting.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer provides the output signal to the microcontroller based on a detected movement of the accelerometer.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a comparator having a set threshold and wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece when the output signal is above the threshold.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece until the output signal drops below the threshold.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the multitalker babble continues for a set period of time after the output signal drops below the threshold.
9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to store data in the memory relating to when the multitalker babble is provided to the earpiece.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer is configured to be positioned in contact with a temporal bone of the user to receive bone conduction vibrations to detect the speech by the user.
11. A method of making a voice enhancement device comprising:
providing an earpiece configured to be positioned in or near an ear of a user;
operatively coupling a microcontroller to the earpiece;
operatively coupling an accelerometer to the microcontroller, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect speech by the user and provide an output signal to the microcontroller to selectively provide the multitalker babble to the earpiece during the detected speech by the user;
wherein the microcontroller has at least a first state in which multitalker babble is retrieved and provided to the earpiece in response to the received output signal from the accelerometer when the received output signal is above a reference level configured to indicate detected speech by the user, wherein the multitalker babble is retrieved and provided to the earpiece at all levels of detected speech by the user, and a second state without the retrieval and provision of the multitalker babble when the received output signal is below the reference level indicating an absence of detected speech by the user.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multitalker babble is provided at a level less than 85 db.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein an amplitude of the provided multitalker babble is adjustable.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the earpiece comprises a non-occlusive ear fitting.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the accelerometer provides the output signal to the microcontroller based on a detected movement of the accelerometer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a comparator having a set threshold and wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece when the output signal is above the threshold.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece until the output signal drops below the threshold.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the multitalker babble continues for a set period of time after the output signal drops below the threshold.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
coupling a memory to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured store data in the memory relating to when the multitalker babble is provided to the earpiece.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the accelerometer is positioned in contact with the temporal bone of the user to receive bone conduction vibrations to detect the speech by the user.
21. A method for increasing vocal loudness in a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an earpiece in or near an ear of the patient;
providing a microcontroller operatively coupled to the earpiece, the microcontroller is configured to selectively provide at least multitalker babble to the earpiece;
positioning an accelerometer operatively coupled to the microcontroller on the patient, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect speech by the patient and provide an output signal to the microcontroller to selectively provide the multitalker babble to the earpiece during the detected speech by the patient;
providing, by the microcontroller, the multitalker babble to the earpiece during the detected speech by the patient to elicit a Lombard effect in the patient, wherein the multitalker babble is provided to the earpiece at all levels of detected speech by the user.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the multitalker babble is provided at a level less than 85 db.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein an amplitude of the provided multitalker babble is adjustable.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the earpiece comprises a non-occlusive ear fitting.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the accelerometer provides the output signal to the microcontroller based on a detected movement of the accelerometer.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the microcontroller further comprises a comparator having a set threshold and wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece when the output signal is above the threshold.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the microcontroller provides the multitalker babble to the earpiece until the output signal drops below the threshold.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the multitalker babble continues for a set period of time after the output signal drops below the threshold.
29. The method of claim 21 , further comprising a memory coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to store data in the memory relating to when the multitalker babble is provided to the earpiece.
30. The method of claim 21 , wherein the accelerometer is positioned in contact with the temporal bone of the user to receive bone conduction vibrations to detect the speech by the user.