Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff

Hearing Aid Amplifier (II)

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WonderWheeler:
This is a continuation of a conversation from January 2017 to some extent.

I'm about to order the parts for a hearing aid that is Raspberry Pi based. Its developed by a German College of some kind and is open source.

Documentation: https://github.com/m-r-s/hearingaid-prototype

Fits in a belt bag, uses combo stereo headphone/microphones, and a bunch of stuff that fits in a fanny pack. So it looks a bit like a person listening to an mp3 player with ear buds. Cost of the materials is about 250 usd. A little complicated but it might be doable. Wish us luck lol.

Planning on using the Raspberry Pi 3B+, a couple little preamps in a separate case with a 9v battery and some plugs. Also a audioinjector Stereo Sound Card for the Pi, battery pack, sd card etc.  The software is open source too.

Announcement from Raspberry Pi forum: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=199890

SiliconWizard:
This is a nice project and initiative.

That said, unfortunately in terms of overall size, weight and power draw, this is going to be much like the first portable hearing aids from the 50's. ;D
Another thing that comes to mind is that using conventional earbuds will allow to help only moderate hearing deficiencies.

Would be interesting to turn the idea into an open source, miniaturized hearing aid able to drive true hearing aid domes, although obviously that would lead to a completely different territory.

jeroen79:
Why would a hearing aid need a raspberry pi?

LeoTech:

--- Quote from: jeroen79 on November 23, 2018, 08:23:13 pm ---Why would a hearing aid need a raspberry pi?

--- End quote ---

I'm with jeroen on this one, it seems quite impracticable to base something like this on a Raspberry Pi, considering that in the end it is pure analog.
And even if some digital processing was needed, why not offload it to a microcontroller or something smaller than a Pi, to make it both smaller, more portable, while increasing battery live.

Or is there some major point we (I am) are missing here? (Just curious)

Leo

WonderWheeler:
Well, I guess I was hoping to also install an MP3 player also, and who knows what else. Yes, the computer does compress the signal to prevent overloading the eardrum, as well as perhaps some noise cancelling and boosting the high part of the frequency spectrum, where most of my hearing loss is.

I'm more concerned about saving money than the fact that it might take up extra space. I am considering also having a POE hat so that at work I could power it off an ethernet line, although that limits portability of course.

Edit: Also the ability to listen to music over the internet would be a plus.  And since more compact in the ear hearing aids can cost 1000usd or more each and I don't have insurance that would cover it.

Also of course, the opportunity to listen to loud rock and roll music to further destroy my hearing... lol
Using the latest Raspberry Pi may limit the battery life, but that is a calculated risk. We'll see how it goes!

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