CSL graduate student receives Microsoft grant for work on augmented listening tech

Like many people who wear hearing aids, Ryan M. Corey is frustrated by the poor performance of the devices in noisy situations. As a PhD student in CSL and Electrical and Computer Engineering, he decided to use his knowledge of signal processing and

communication systems to help make them work better. Specifically, Corey is developing devices and algorithms that will enhance audio signals in noisy environments with many competing sound sources.

Corey, who has suffered from moderate hearing loss his whole life, has worn hearing aids since high school and is very familiar with the shortcomings of today’s technology.

“Hearing aids don’t work well with background noise," Corey said. “Everyone in the field knows that, but there doesn’t appear to be a strong research focus on it now. There are some important gaps in theory that I’m hoping to fill.”

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As we get into the holiday season, we at CSL are putting together a series of stories about research for which we are grateful. This is the third in the Thankful Series featuring research our scientists have conducted for social good. Read the first, Social interaction may provide health benefit, second, Bystander bots to combat cyberbullying, and third, Illinois and Mayo Clinic team up to develop improved method to identify seizure-causing regions in the brain.