Question
Is frequency transposition the same as nonlinear frequency compression? Who can benefit from this type of technology?
Answer
The terms frequency lowering and frequency shifting are used to describe this type of signal processing strategy, with the methods by which this is accomplished as either via transposition or compression. Although there are significant technical differences between the various strategies, these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. These types of strategies are beneficial for improving audibility of high frequency consonants that are so critical for speech understanding and monitoring own voice quality. Frequency lowering also enables better perception of high frequency environmental sounds. Candidates for this type of technology include people with a wide range of hearing loss in the high frequencies.
SoundRecover from Phonak is a propriety nonlinear frequency compression algorithm that is designed to compress and shift high frequency information into an adjacent area of audible hearing. SoundRecover is currently available in the Naida hearing instrument family which includes a 675 and a 13 battery power models. This unique approach enables high frequency information to be compressed while producing a minimum of artifacts. As a result, high frequency sounds like fricative consonants, women's and children voices, birds chirping and microwave beeping, to name just a few, become audible.
Extensive studies conducted at different research centers worldwide, have verified the benefits of SoundRecover including increased detection, distinction and recognition of high frequency sounds;significant improvement in intonation and own voice quality;and better hearing in noise. Most wearers acclimatize quickly to SoundRecover within 4 to 8 weeks.
Comprehensive information on SoundRecover is available on the www.naida.phonak.com. Sound demos, background information, verification protocols and a testimonial of a young college student are available for viewing.
Diane Hammel, is Senior Manager of Product Management for Phonak US. She coordinates the product planning and execution of all Phonak product families from their launch and through their life cycles. Before joining Phonak nearly 5 years ago, Dr. Hammel was a private practice audiologist for 15 years with extensive dispensing experience with both adult and pediatric enduser populations.
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