Wave Sciences announces the issuance of US Patent #US9,402,117, which relates to smart garment hearing assistance technology (HAT). This invention does not suffer from the limitations of current hearing-aid or remote-microphone HAT systems and will improve the utility of current hearing-aids and ear-buds by augmenting them, by being discrete and hands-free in its use, and providing greater directionality than can be achieved with devices worn-on or -in the ear alone. This invention is particularly applicable to consumer health, consumer electronics, outdoors, military, and safety applications.