Download Digital hearing products for educational environments

COMFORT DIGISYSTEM
Digital hearing products for
educational environments
Comfort Digisystem enables pupils with hearing loss to hear both the teacher and their classmates well – and to participate in all school activities.
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Where a hearing aid reaches its limits,
digital hearing products take over
Being able to hear well at school is important both for
learning and general social interaction. But for a pupil
with a hearing aid or hearing implant (cochlear implant
or bone-anchored hearing aid), the sound environment
of a school is often an obstacle to participation. This is
because the distances from the sound sources are
generally significant, and a school environment has
a lot of background noise.
HEARING
AID
Digital sound processing that reduces
background noise
Comfort DigisystemTM is a range of wireless digital
hearing products that enhance speech and reduce
disturbing background noise before it reaches the
hearing aid or hearing implant.
The sound is digitally processed, making it easier to
hear, understand and play a full part right from the very
first preschool class assembly through to university
examinations.
COMFORT
DIGISYSTEM
NOISE
SPEECH
Comfort Digisystem supplements hearing aids and hearing implants in
challenging sound environments. The system reduces disturbing
background noise and enhances speech.
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SNR is the key to high speech quality.
And digital radio technology delivers
optimum SNR.
Learning requires a high SNR
The stronger the signal in relation to the background
noise, the higher the speech quality. The signal-tonoise ratio affects anyone’s ability to perceive speech
and hold a conversation, but someone with hearing loss
requires an SNR up to 15 dB better than that needed by
a person with normal hearing in a similar situation.1
Children with hearing loss generally also need a
further 5 dB improvement in SNR, as their linguistic
abilities are still in the process of development.2
An effective way of improving SNR
There are a number of ways in which SNR can be
improved. So, for instance, binaural hearing aid
adaptations improve SNR by around 3 dB.3 By reducing
the distance from the sound source from four metres to
one, there is an improvement in SNR of around 12 dB.4
But the easiest way to significantly improve SNR is to
use digital hearing products to supplement hearing
aids and hearing implants.
Comfort Digisystem improves SNR by 23 dB
An independent study 5 carried out by Lund University in
Sweden has confirmed the unique capability of this
digital technology to improve speech quality in
environments where there is a lot of background noise.
Improvement of signal-to-noise ratio in dB
In any given hearing situation, our speech perception is
affected by the relationship between the signal (speech)
and the background noise (general noise, echo and
other disturbing background noise). The signal/
background noise ratio or SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) is
measured in decibels.
25
20
15
10
5
0
-10
0
10
15
Original signal-to-noise ratio in dB (ICRA-noise)
•when SNR is -10 dB (i.e. speech is 10 dB weaker than
the background noise), Comfort Digisystem improves
SNR by 23 dB
•w
hen SNR is 0 (i.e. the speech and background noise
levels are equal), Comfort Digisystem improves SNR
by 17 dB.
By way of comparison, a hearing aid with adaptive
background noise reduction and directional
microphones can improve SNR by 3 to 6 dB.6
Killion, M. (1997). The SIN report: Circuits haven’t solved the hearing-in-noise problem. The Hearing Journal, Vol. 50, No. 10, 29.
John S. Bradley, Hiroshi Sato (2004). Speech intelligibility test results for grade 1, 3 and 6 children in real classrooms. National Research Council, Canada, Tohoku University, Japan.
and 4 Arlinger, S. (1999). Störning av talkommunikation. Störande buller – Kunskapsöversikt för kriteriedokumentation, red. U Landström. Arbete och hälsa, rapport 1999:27, 28-43.
5
Sergey Smirnov (2011), PhD student, Department of Electrical and Information Technology, Lund University, Sweden.
6
Pumford JM, Seewald RC, Scollie SD, Jenstad LM (2000). Speech recognition with in-the-ear and behind-the-ear dual-microphone hearing instruments. 2000 Jan;11(1): 25-35.
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The microphones are available in several versions, from a flexible teacher’s microphone to a user-friendly push-to-talk microphone.
The choice of receiver is governed by user preference. So, for example, the receiver with a neck loop is often used by younger pupils,
whereas the minireceiver is more common among older ones.
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Comfort Digisystem is a complete system that utilises the full
potential of digital technology. The flexible products allow the best
possible sound reproduction at school.
Comfort Audio’s patented
technology for digital sound
transmission is called SecureStream TechnologyTM
(SST). The technology has been specially developed for
hearing products and helps improve quality of life for
those with hearing loss.
SecureStream Technology has many advantages
Digital radio technology has many advantages over FM
technology:
• no radio noise
• large dynamic range (over 60 dB)
• stable signal transmission
• eavesdrop-secure signal transmission
• linear sound reproduction up to 90 dB SPL
• audio bandwidth optimised for speech quality
An additional advantage is that SST completely
eliminates the need for external antennas on the
transmitter and receiver. Perfectly adequate range and
stability can be achieved just by using small integrated
antennas. Unlike other digital radio systems, SST
involves no time delay.
Powerful digital sound processing
The conference microphones in Comfort Digisystem are
provided with Perceptual Speech Enhancement (PSE).
PSE consists of several functions that interact to bring
meaningful parts of speech to the fore, at the same time
as suppressing disturbing noise in the form of general
noise, transient sound and echo.
Without Comfort Digisystem
With Comfort Digisystem
Comfort Digisystem effectively improves the signal-to-noise ratio using
digital sound processing and interference-free signal transmission.
Experience the difference with your own ears at comfortaudio.com/
for-professional/sound-demo
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For all levels of hearing loss
Comfort Digisystem can be used for slight or moderate
as well as severe hearing loss. The microphones are
equipped with Automatic Gain Control (AGC), which
maintains a comfortable sound level and reduces
transient sound. The hearing products can also be used
by pupils who find it hard to concentrate.
Advanced channel management which is flexible
as well
Comfort Digisystem supports many different
microphone solutions, making it the ideal solution for a
school environment. One of the functions that
contributes to this flexibility is Free Channel Request
(FCR). FCR ensures that in a push-to-talk system only
one microphone transmits at a time, irrespective of
how many microphones the system contains.
The microphones are also equipped with Free
Frequency Check (FFC), a function that indicates
accessible channels and uses the microphone display
to show which frequencies are suitable.
Compatibility
Comfort Digisystem receivers can be used with:
• hearing aids
• cochlear implants
• bone-anchored hearing aids
•headphones
•earphones
•teleloops
Microphones
for all situations in school.
Microphone DM05
Practical microphone for a
teacher or lecturer.
Microphone DM10 and DM20
Flexible microphones with many
functions for both teachers and
pupils.
Microphone DM30
Conference Microphone
DC10 and DC20
Receiver DH10
Receiver DT20
Push-to-talk microphone that
can receive as well as transmit.
Now with an improved neck
loop.
With digital sound processing
and four microphone modes.
Connected to a mobile phone
via Bluetooth.
Receivers
that are compatible with all
Comfort Digisystem microphones.
Receiver DE10
A small receiver worn on the
ear. Can be used on either the
right or left ear.
Used with a neck loop, headphones or earphones.
The world’s most advanced
digital mini-receiver. Powered
by the hearing aid or hearing
implant battery.
Other equipment
to complement the microphones and receivers in Comfort Digisystem.
Access DA20
Diversity receiver that can
handle all sound sources in a
classroom.
Access DA20 LS
Diversity receiver with
integrated loop amplifier.
Sync DY10
Synchronises all Comfort
Digisystem units used in
the room.
Speaker DS15
Speaker for temporary or
permanent installation.
Several connection options.
Assortment may vary by country
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Places the focus on the teacher and
brings clarity to dialogue
Being able to hear the teacher’s voice clearly and
distinctly is just as important in preschool as it is at
university level. Comfort Digisystem can be used in
many situations throughout a person’s school and
university career to eliminate background noise and
solve the problems caused by long distances from the
speaker.
Several teacher microphones can be used
simultaneously
A microphone and receiver are all that is needed
Good coverage in big rooms too
Comfort Digisystem offers many options for optimising
sound reproduction of what the teacher is saying. The
teacher can, for instance, use a discreet microphone
that picks up and digitises speech before it is
transmitted to the pupil’s receiver.
As the microphone is positioned near to the sound
source, a pupil with hearing loss is spared background
noise and disturbing hum.
The microphone picks up what the teacher is saying and transmits it
digitally to the pupil’s receiver.
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In many contexts, a pupil with hearing loss has to be
able to hear several teachers at the same time. Thanks
to the digital technology, several teacher microphones
can be used in the same room without interfering with
each other.
Long distances from lecturers are no problem:
the microphone has a range of up to 30 metres.
A practical solution outside school as well
Comfort Digisystem can easily be taken with you and
used during excursions and outdoor activities, for
instance.
The sound is picked up by several teacher microphones and digitally
processed, before being sent to the receiver, in this case a Receiver
DT20 minireceiver, which is connected to the hearing aid.
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2
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1 Pupils can use a receiver with a neck loop, a
minireceiver or a receiver worn on the ear.
2 Microphone DM10 with Automatic Gain Control 3With Comfort Digisystem, the teacher’s spoken
regulates the volume, ensuring the teacher’s
message is communicated clearly and distinctly.
speech output is conveyed at a comfortable
The teacher in the illustration is using a boom
level.
microphone, connected to the Comfort Digisystem
microphone in her pocket.
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For increased participation and
confidence when working with other
pupils
Comfort Digisystem helps pupils with hearing loss
participate in group work and larger discussions.
Hear your teacher and classmates as well
The products are easy to use and are specially adapted
for teaching situations. One example is the Microphone
DM10 push-to-talk microphone which manages the
conversational sequence so that only one pupil at a
time can talk. The microphone is equipped with the
unique Free Channel Request (FCR) function, which
ensures that only one pupil microphone at a time
transmits – irrespective of how many microphones
there are in the classroom. The microphone the
teacher users transmits the whole time.
The push-to-talk microphones with FCR structure the
conversation in the classroom and ensure that a pupil
with hearing loss does not miss any of the conversation
between the teacher and the pupil currently speaking.
Flexible and user-friendly
Comfort Digisystem Microphone DM10 delivers crystal
clear sound in conversations, group work and lectures.
It can also be connected to a DVD player, computer,
smartboard or other external sound source.
The sound from the push-to-talk microphone is first sent
to the teacher’s microphone. It is then sent to the receiver
worn by the pupil with hearing loss.
Do you want to know more about how Comfort Digisystem
can be used in the classroom? See the situation clips at
comfortaudio.com/for-professionals/solutions/school/
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1 All participants in the conversation are easily
heard, as the conference microphone
automatically compensates for the distance
between it and the sound source.
2 Comfort Digisystem transmits the sound to the
girl’s minireceiver without any delay. It is crucial
for pupils who lip read that the sound should be
in sync with what they visually perceive.
3 The green LED on the receiver indicates that
the unit is switched on.
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Creates a better sound environment
for everyone at school
Comfort Audio’s product development is always
undertaken on the basis of a fully integrated overall
approach. Knowledge of the environments in which
hearing products are used and an understanding of
how the user thinks and behaves are vital to developing
truly functional products.
This philosophy has meant that the unique digital
technology on which Comfort Digisystem is based has
found a number of uses in schools – thereby benefitting
pupils with normal hearing as well. Here are a few
examples:
•wireless aids for pupils with concentration problems
which direct focus naturally onto the teacher and
contribute to a calmer atmosphere in the classroom
The sound from several teacher microphones and one push-to-talk
microphone is transmitted to the Access DA20 diversity receiver. There
the sound is mixed before being sent to the pupil’s receiver. External
sound sources can also be connected.
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•complete speaker systems for speech amplification,
which enhance the sound environment for pupils with
normal hearing and spare the teacher’s voice
•flexible pupil microphones that can be connected
directly to an external sound source, such as a DVD
player, computer or TV
Transmitter and receiver in a single unit
Comfort Digisystem Microphone DM30 has been
developed for special schools. It works both as a
transmitter and as a receiver, making it suitable for
environments where pupils and teachers alike have
hearing loss.
The versatile Conference Microphone DC20 automatically compensates
for the distance to the sound source and processes the sound digitally,
bringing meaningful parts of speech to the fore and suppressing
disturbing noise. The microphone can also be used as a receiver for a
lecturer microphone.
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1 The teacher’s microphone mixes her speech
with the sound coming from the pupils’
microphones. The pupils’ microphones are held
in practical desk stands.
2 The microphone can easily be connected to an
external sound source, such as a computer or a
mobile, via Bluetooth.
3Comfort Audio’s products can easily be connected
to an existing sound installation.
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A knowledge advantage which
creates new possibilities
Working in partnership with Comfort Audio is
rewarding.
We give you new perspectives on school sound
environments so that you can utilise the potential of the
digital technology to the full.
Through Comfort Academy and other training forums
you will get access to practical information about the
company’s products and systems.
On our website and our extranet you will have access to
an extensive selection of information and marketing
materials.
When it comes to installing the equipment and
integrating it with existing systems, Comfort Audio’s
technicians can assist with expert advice and
documentation.
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Support and good advice on product applications,
options for trying them out and troubleshooting, are
available to you online, by telephone or via Comfort
Audio’s distributors.
The hearing products are developed, tested and
manufactured in Sweden by our own staff. Comfort
Audio manages the entire process from initial idea to
finished product, thereby guaranteeing the highest
quality.
In short: from Comfort Audio you can expect that little
bit more.
Contact Comfort Audio for a one-to-one meeting so that we can tell you more about our digital hearing
products.
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Since 1994, Swedish company Comfort Audio has developed and manufactured products for people with
hearing loss. With leading technology and innovative solutions, we have a mission to make people with
hearing loss feel comfortable interacting in all situations through all stages of life.
We are dedicated, curious, highly technically motivated and are driven by passion and joy. This has made us
one of the leading companies in hearing product technology. Our products have been developed for working
life, school, public places and private life. The needs of the individual are always in focus and we have a
genuine desire to improve the quality of life for people with a hearing loss.
Comfort Audio AB | PO Box 154 | SE-301 05 Halmstad, Sweden | Tel. + 46 35-260 16 00
[email protected] | www.comfortaudio.com