Telephone with integrated hearing aid
An integrated telephone and hearing aid that has a single in-ear speaker is disclosed. The illustrative embodiments automatically adapt the operation of the hearing aid based on whether a telephone call is in progress or not. For example, when the user is not engaged in a telephone call, the illustrative embodiments function as a normal hearing aid. But when the user does become engaged in a telephone call, the illustrative embodiments alter the hearing aid function so that the user can hear the telephone call. For example, the illustrative embodiments attenuate the hearing aid function while a call is in progress so that the user can hear both the telephone call and retain some, albeit diminished, auditory input from the environment. This enables, for example, the user to still hear loud sounds (e.g., a car horn, a fire alarm, a person screaming, etc.).
1. A combination telephone and hearing aid comprising:
a first microphone for converting a first acoustic signal into a first electromagnetic signal;
a second microphone for converting a second ambient acoustic signal into a second electromagnetic signal;
a receiver for receiving a third electromagnetic signal that represents a third acoustic signal; and
a speaker for converting a fourth electromagnetic signal into a fourth acoustic signal, wherein said fourth electromagnetic signal is based on said first electromagnetic signal, said second electromagnetic signal, and said third electromagnetic signal.
2. The combination telephone and hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said first electromagnetic signal.
3. The combination telephone and hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the relative contribution of said first electromagnetic signal, said second electromagnetic signal, and said third electromagnetic signal to said fourth electromagnetic signal is based on whether said combination telephone and hearing aid is engaged in a call.