1. A method of operating a system comprising memory and a processor for executing instructions stored in the memory, the instructions comprising a sound classifier, the method comprising: receiving an audio signal from an audio input device; generating a plurality of frames from the audio signal; analyzing, using the sound classifier, each of the plurality of frames of audio; classifying, using the sound classifier, a first number of the frames of audio as non-transient background noise; classifying, using the sound classifier, a second number of the frames of audio as transient noise events; providing, using the sound classifier, signals indicative of at least the classifications of the frames of audio to the system; and updating a background noise estimate using the audio corresponding to the frames classified as non-transient background noise and not using the audio corresponding to the frames classified as transient noise events.