A portable programmable digital sound processor for cochlear implant research

A programmable sound processor which utilizes digital signal processing has been developed for hearing prosthesis research. It incorporates a Motorola DSP56001 integrated circuit, 32 K words of memory, a 12 b analog-to-digital converter, and a data formatter and transmitter which conveys control codes to the receiver-stimulator of a cochlear implant. The processor is pocket-sized and battery powered. It has been programmed to emulate the Spectral Maxima Sound Processor for the University of Melbourne/Nucleus 22 electrode implant, and is currently being used by several implantees. In continuing research, speech processing programs are being improved, and other applications, including signal processing for binaural implants and advanced hearing aids, are being developed.<
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