A DSP innovated converter of speech rate for hearing impaired patients

This paper proposes a real-time band-size portable device which slows speech speed, enhances clarity and optimizes pitch for hearing impaired people. A simplified pitch synchronous, time scale modification algorithm is proposed to minimize the complexity of DSP operations involved. The results have been verified with a sentence recognition test conducted at the Department of Rehabilitation Science of Holycross College (Tamil nadu), under the guidance of physicians of the Tanjavur Medical College (Tamil nadu, India). Due weightage has been given to cost effectiveness, portability and safety criteria.