Silicon Microphone Technology: Advances Multi-Channel Adaptive Directional Systems

1 Modern hearing aid technology allows the response pattern of a multi-microphone directional array to be varied in response to the acoustic environment. For example, some systems attempt to identify noise sources and respond by steering an acoustic null or nulls formed by the directional microphones toward the noise source. While this technology holds the promise of improved speech intelligibility and comfort in noise, previous implementations have not consistently translated to real-world benefits (Bentler et al., 2004). This lack of real-world benefit stems in part from microphone “drift” and subsequent microphone mismatch, which negatively affect directional microphone performance. With the introduction of Starkey Hearing Technologies’ newest products, microphone drift is minimized, resulting in a multi-microphone directional system that has stable and predictable performance over time. This article provides a tutorial on adaptive directional microphones and their performance characteristics while introducing Starkey Hearing Technologies’ solution to the problem of microphone drift. In addition, evidence-based data will demonstrate the benefit of Starkey Hearing Technologies’ new multichannel, adaptive, directional, beam-forming system.