From my reading, it looks like Oticon’s frequency transposing feature (Speech Rescue) is only available in it’s Power BTE? Volusiano, it looks like from your audiogram that frequency lowering might be of benefit. Have you ever had aids that had that feature (and that you used)? Sounds like different manufacturers have multiple approaches how they handle this.
Hi MDB, my interpretation of the Oticon announcement is a little different. The way I read it, they’ll add the Power Plus to the OPN line, but they will add the Speech Rescue LX and Tinnitus SoundSupport to ALL OPN styles and performance levels. Below is the snippet from the announcement in the other thread and highlighted in red is where it says pretty clearly that the firmware update 4 will give everybody Speech Rescue, even OPN3 users.
I’ve never tried any frequency shifting technology before so I’m extremely excited to get a chance to try out the Speech Rescue LX when the firmware update 4 becomes available. I already had an inquiry into my audi and she promises to get more information for me when she goes to the training on 4/11.
“Oticon further expands the Opn family with the introduction of two new Opn styles and the integration of Tinnitus SoundSupport™ and Speech Rescue™ LX into all Opn styles and performance levels. The new small, discreet miniRITE-T and the powerful BTE 13 PP give people with mild to severe-to-profound hearing loss access to Opn’s revolutionary open sound experience. Even more benefits are available to Opn users with the addition of two proven features, Tinnitus SoundSupport™ and Speech Rescue™ LX. The newly added features offer customizable relief sounds for tinnitus suffers and improved clarity and speech understanding for people with high frequency hearing loss.”
…“A new firmware package 4 with the newest features, including Speech Rescue and Tinnitus SoundSupport, will be made available through the Oticon Firmware Updater in Genie 2. The newest firmware package enables hearing care professionals to continue to add improved and new features, as they become available, to Oticon Opn hearing aids regardless of style or performance level.”
Thanks! I hadn’t read that but when looking up Oticon Speech Rescue found something that said that only their Power Aid had it, but this certainly supercedes it. Definitely let us know what you think of it. I keep thinking that I ought to enable Rexton’s version of frequency shifting but having a difficult time motivating myself.
Here’s a quick video podcast from Oticon which has a feature on it:
https://www.oticon.com/professionals/audiology-students/education-and-information/podcast-program/
Wonder what happened to firmware version 3…
Does anyone know if firmware version 4 is out yet???
I have Oticon OWN ITC. I use the home Genie 2 software for adjustment.
I want to try the Speech Rescue function.
When I play a sine tone of e.g. 6 kHz on my PC, I can’t hear it even with the device, but when I activate Speech Rescue, I hear it as a low-frequency tone. That’s how it should be.
The settings are as recommended (3.5 kHz and volume in the middle)
By selecting SPLogram or Audiological view and “Speech sound s” or “Speech sound sh”, the source and destination frequency ranges are visible as well as the spectrum that has the sound s (or sh).
The help recommends fine-tuning using these tones.
I don’t understand how these tones can be applied to hear them and thus select the frequency ranges and the required signal strength?
I downloaded the files UWO_s_-10 (Test FL) and UWO_sh_-6 (Test FL) from the Western University website.
On that website it is explained that these calibrated test tones should be MEASURED at 65 dB SPL?
How do I use this in self-tuning Speesh Rescue on Genie?
Thank you!
I’m not familiar with Genie software. If you want to approximate calibrated test tones you could try downloading an app that measures sound levels.
I’ve found this website helpful for understanding frequency lowering. Frequency Lowering Fitting Assistants
I find the s-sh confusion test useful to see if I’ve got it adjusted correctly.
I have a clear concept of how the frequency lowering works.
I am just asking how can I HEAR the S sound and the SH sound by selecting “Speech sound s” or “Speech sound sh” in the Genie software and thus fine-tune the range and volume of Speech Rescue?
I also downloaded two files UWO_s_-10 (Test FL) and UWO_sh_-6 (Test FL) that represent these tones, provided by Western University but I don’t know how to use them with a PC.
Maybe Volusiano and PVC could help? Or someone else?
So how can you be sure those downloaded sound files work within Genie? Doesn’t Genie have its own sound media files “SoundStudio” or something similar.
The Genie 2 software for Oticon hearing aids has its own media files, i.e. simulations of various scenes using the SoundStudio application integrated into the software.
But there are no (or I don’t know how to activate) sound recordings of the sounds s and sh?! The program help says:
“You can fine-tune settings by simulating the Speech Rescue in SPLogram or Audiological View. Use the speech sounds /s/ and /sh/ to show how configuration and strength settings impact the spectrum of these sounds compared to unprocessed sounds. You can also see if the sounds are above the client’s hearing threshold”.
When I select speech sounds s or speech sounds on the diagram (which I posted earlier), the frequency range of the s or sh sound is visible, but it is not audible for me to make fine adjustments.
In the link below, you can see that these simulated s and sh tones are also used in the Genie software.
[https://assets-ue.cas.dgs.com/-/media/oticon-us/main/download-center/white-papers/20269us--candidacy-and-verification-of-oticon-speech-rescue-technology-2015.pdf?rev=C509&la=en]
There is also mention of AudioScan Verifit 2, for determining MAOF and adjusting, but of course I don’t have that…
My question for someone who knows is:
How to test the sounds s and sh with Genie 2 (without AudioScan) for adjusting the level and range of Speech Rescue?
Personally, I would just pick a streaming video that has a lot of talking in English where the “s” and “sh” are pronounced. Then I would just simply pick what I think is the most appropriate configuration in Speech Rescue that’s suitable to my hearing loss, and leave the High Frequency Bands to OFF, then stream the video clip and listen to the s and sh. If I find them too pronounced, I would reduce the “Strength” setting until I’m comfortable with them. If I want to hear them better, then I increase the Strength value.
The configuration you choose is important. If your audible range is in the 1-2 KHz region, then pick the left most configuration 2.4. If your audible range is higher then that, then pick a higher configuration. But once you’ve chosen the proper configuration (assuming that your audible range is at least around 1-2 KHz where your ski slope starts dropping off), then you should be able to hear the “s” and “sh” sounds, so then it’s just a matter of adjusting the Strength value to your liking. If your audible range is lower than 1-2 KHz, then Speech Rescue is not going to help you.
Personally, I think the above is the best and easiest way to try out Speech Rescue, by setting up the right configuration, then use anecdotal evidence to determine how to make adjustment. I wouldn’t try to do any kind of testing more fancy than this.
2 Likes