Optimized Directional Processing in Hearing Aids with Integrated Spatial Noise Reduction

In this paper we present an optimized differential beamformer combined with a spatial noise reduction for small apertures such as in hearing aids. The frequency domain solution of the differential beamformer allows an optimized noise interference suppression with an adaptive masking of microphone noise. The spatial noise reduction utilizes a beamformer signal for interference estimation. Thus it is possible to suppress all kinds of interfering components outside the look direction by an optimal integration into the classic Wiener filter noise reduction procedure.