Method and computer program product of processing sound segment and hearing aid
A method of processing a sound segment is used in a hearing aid. If the sound segment is a high-frequency type, the high-frequency portion of the sound segment will be processed with a frequency lowering process. If the sound segment is a mixed-frequency type (between high-frequency and low-frequency), the energy of at least some portion of the high-frequency portion of the sound segment will be decreased and then processed with a frequency lowering process.
1. A method of processing a sound segment, used in a hearing aid, the method comprising:
checking a type of the sound segment, wherein the type of the sound segment is selected from at least the following three types: a low-frequency type, a mixed-frequency type and a high-frequency type, wherein:
the high-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz greater than X % and less than 100%, wherein 1200≦A≦3000, and 50≦X≦60;
the mixed-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz less than X % and greater than Y %, wherein (X−30)≦Y≦(X−5); and
the low-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz greater than or equal to 0% and less than Y %;
if the sound segment is determined to be the high-frequency type, performing a first frequency lowering process on the sound segment, wherein the first frequency lowering process at least processes a portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz, and the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is not decreased before the first frequency lowering process is performed, where 2000≦B≦5000; and
if the sound segment is determined to be the mixed-frequency type, performing a second frequency lowering process, wherein the second frequency lowering process at least processes a portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz, and the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is decreased before the second frequency lowering process is performed.
2. The method of processing a sound segment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the second frequency lowering process, the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is decreased between 100% and 0%.
3. The method of processing a sound segment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein if the sound segment is determined to be the mixed-frequency type, the lower the proportion of the energy over A Hz is, the greater the proportion of the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz that is decreased when the second frequency lowering process is performed.
4. A computer product, capable of executing the method as claimed in claim 3 afer being loaded onto and executed by a hearing aid.
5. A computer program product, capable of executing the method as claimed in claim 2 after being loaded onto and executed by a hearing aid.
6. A computer program product, capable of executing the method as claimed in claim 1 after being loaded onto and executed by a hearing aid.
7. A hearing aid, used for receiving an input sound, and capable of modifying the input sound for being outputted to a hearing-impaired listener, the hearing aid comprising:
a sound receiver, used for receiving the input sound;
a sound processing module, electrically connected to the sound receiver, used for dividing the input sound into a plurality of sound segments, and checking a type of each of the sound segments, wherein the type of the sound segment is selected from at least the following three types: a low-frequency type, a mixed-frequency type and a high-frequency type, wherein:
the high-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz greater than X % and less than 100%, wherein 1200≦A≦3000, and 50≦X≦60;
the mixed-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz less than X % and greater than Y %, wherein (X−30)≦Y≦(X−5); and
the low-frequency type is characterized by having energy over A Hz greater than or equal to 0% and less than Y %;
if the sound segment is determined to be the high-frequency type, the sound processing module performing a first frequency lowering process on the sound segment, wherein the first frequency lowering process at least processes a portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz, and the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is not decreased before the first frequency lowering process is performed, where 2000≦B≦5000; and
if the sound segment is determined to be the mixed-frequency type, the sound processing module performing a second frequency lowering process on the sound segment, wherein the second frequency lowering process at least processes a portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz, and the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is decreased before the second frequency lowering process is performed.
8. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz is decreased between 100% and 0%.
9. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 8 , wherein if the sound segment is determined to be the mixed-frequency type, the lower the proportion of the energy over A Hz is, the greater the proportion of the energy of the portion of the sound segment with its frequency over B Hz that is decreased when the second frequency lowering process is performed.