Method for the adjustment of a hearing device, apparatus to do it and a hearing device

• US 20020051549A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Bohumir Uvacek, Herbert Bachler
• Inventors: Bachler, Herbert, Uvacek, Bohumir
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

An adjustment method for a hearing device and an apparatus to do it are proposed, by which a model for the perception of a psycho-acoustic variable, especially of the loudness, is parametrized for a standard group of individuals (L_N) as well as for an individual (L_I). On grounds of model differences, especially in relation to their parametrization, the adjustment values are determined, whereas the signal transmission is planned or adjusted at a hearing device (HG) ex situ or is guided in situ, respectively.

Claims

1. Method for the adjustment of a hearing device (HG) to an individual (I), characterized in that

at least one psycho-acoustic perception variable (L, F_f, ZMG) of a standard (N) is quantified for given acoustic signals;

the same psycho-acoustic perception variable (L, Ff, ZMG) is quantified as it is perceived by the individual (I) for said acoustic signals;

according to deviations of said quantified psycho-acoustic perception variables, the hearing device is adjusted and realized in such a manner that said psycho-acoustic perception variable which is perceived by the individual with the hearing device is at least related to a corresponding psycho-acoustic perception variable in a previously defined way, which perception variable is perceived by the standard.

2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the previously defined relation is equality.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the quantification, the determination of said deviations is performed by an apparatus which is separated form the hearing device, and the acoustic signals are presented to the individual without the hearing device for the quantification.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the quantification, the determination of said deviations is performed by an apparatus which is separated from the hearing device, and the acoustic signals are presented to the individual with the hearing device for the quantification, and, preferably, an adjustable connection is installed between the apparatus and the hearing device for the transfer of data which depend on the deviations.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the quantification of the psycho-acoustic perception variable is interrupted by the individual when the deviations are determined to be of a previously definable (Δ

R) precision.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the number of variables which have to be quantified by the individual are reduced in such a way that the perception of the variable, preferably on grounds of diagnostic information, is estimated in advance and the estimation is checked and, if need be, defined by the quantification.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that at least one psycho-acoustic perception variable is equal to one member of the set containing loudness, frequency masking, or time masking.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that a model (11;

53;

53′

;

118, 120;

53a, 118a;

150) is established for the determination of the dependence of the psycho-acoustic perception variable on acoustic signals, and the parameter of the model are, on the one hand, determined in such a way that the simulated psycho-acoustic variable on grounds of acoustic signals are equally perceived as the psycho-acoustic variable of the standard of these acoustic signals at least in approximation, on the other hand, in such a way that the simulated psycho-acoustic variable is equally perceived as the psycho-acoustic variable of the individual, and that one concludes from the parameter differences of the two model methods to the concept or adjustment of the hearing device, or one adjusts the transmission of the hearing device by the determined differences.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that a model (11;

53;

53′

) is established for the determination of the dependence of the psycho-acoustic perception variable on acoustic signals, and the parameters of the model are determined in such a way that the simulated psycho-acoustic variable on grounds of acoustic signals are equally perceived as the psycho-acoustic variable of the standard of these acoustic signals, that, in addition, one quantifies (5) the psycho-acoustic perception variable towards acoustic signals, which perception variable is perceived by the individual without hearing device, and that one modifies the determined model parameters at the model such that the calculated simulated psycho-acoustic variable corresponds to the one quantified by the individual in a previously definable degree.

10. Method according to one of claims 8 or 9 characterized in that one interrupts the determination of the parameters for the model simulation of the variable which is perceived by the individual at that point in time when the parameters are fixing the model by a previously definable precision.

11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10 characterized in that the determination of the parameters hereby begins with estimated values.

12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11 characterized in that only those parameters are determined which fix the model method by a previously definable precision.

13. Method according to one of claims 8 to 12 characterized in that one implements the model (53′

;

118, 120;

53a, 118a;

150) in the hearing device and fixes the parameters of the model to form a correction model, corresponding to the mentioned differences or modifications.

14. Method according to one of claims 8 to 12 characterized in that one implements the model for the standard and for the individual in the hearing device, of which model one is applied to input signals, the other to the output signals of the hearing device, adjusting the hearing device transmission depending on model method differences.

15. Method according to one of claims 8 to 14 characterized in that one selects a model (1) of which the modifications of the parameters (α

, CB, T) result in the same modifications of the simulated psycho-acoustic variables as modifications of assigned physical engagement variables (66) result in modifications of the psycho-acoustic variable in the transfer path of the hearing device.

16. Method according to one of claims 8 to 15 characterized in that several parameter modification sets which fulfill the mentioned conditions are determined, and that the set is used for the concept or for the adjustment of the hearing device, which set results in an individually satisfying sound impression for the individual with the hearing device.

17. Method according to one of claims 8 to 16 characterized in that the loudness is used as psycho-acoustic perception variable and that the loudness is simulated by (1)

18. Method according to claim 17 characterized in that the hearing limits are individually considered by the model method, preferably also considering α

_k and, if need be, also CB_k individually.

19. Method according to one of claims 17 or 18 characterized in that the frequency and/or time masking is used as psycho-acoustic perception variable in addition.

20. Method according to one of claims 1 to 19 characterized in that one simulates the dependence of a psycho-acoustic variable in the hearing device on acoustic signals for the standard and for the individual, and that one applies the models to electric input and/or output signals of the hearing device in the time domain and/or in the frequency domain, which signals correspond to acoustic signals.

21. Method according to claim 19 characterized in that at least one loudness model and at least one masking model are used for the adjustment of the transfer adjustment variables in the hearing device in a intermittent manner.

22. Method according to one of claims 1 to 21 characterized in that the time masking is used as a psycho-acoustic perception variable, and that this time masking is considered at the hearing device by an adjusted time-variant transfer delay, preferably using WSOLA-algorithms.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 characterized in that a memory unit containing read-only data is connected to the input of the calculation unit, and the output of the comparison unit is taking effect on a control unit of a data modification unit, at which the data which are fed from the memory unit to the calculation unit are modified according to the signal at the output of the comparison unit.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 characterized in that the output of the comparison unit acts on the limit value unit having an output which activates or deactivates the modification unit, whereas a previously definable limit value signal is fed to the limit value unit.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 characterized in that input and also output signals are fed to the calculation unit, and that signals act on the control elements in function of a difference of the calculation unit output signals, resulting with the input or output signals.

28. Apparatus according to one of claims 22 to 27 characterized in that at least one model is implemented in the calculation unit, which model simulates at least one of the psycho-acoustic perception variables loudness, frequency masking, time masking, preferably simulating at least the loudness.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 characterized in that a calculation unit is provided which is separated from the hearing device, on which calculation unit, at its input, a memory unit for read-only data is taking effect, whereas the comparison unit, at its output, acts on a control input of the data modification unit, and, in addition, a signal generator is provided which, on the one hand, acts on a output control input of the memory unit, on the other hand, on an electric/acoustic converter, whereas the calculation unit simulates a psycho-acoustic variable, parametrized by the modified data which are loaded from the memory unit.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29 characterized in that the comparison unit, at its input, is effectively connected to a categories scaling unit in which the perception is categorized individually.

31. Apparatus according to claim 28 characterized in that at least one calculation unit is provided in the hearing device in which the model is implemented, and that a memory unit for parameter data is assigned to this calculation unit, whereas the memory unit, at its output, is effectively connected to adjustment elements for the signal transmission at the hearing device.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31 characterized in that at least two data sets are saved in the memory unit, which data sets have an impact on the calculation unit each through the input and output signals of the hearing device, at which the simulation difference is formed, in which dependence, the calculation unit is taking effect on the adjustment elements.

35. Apparatus according to one of claims 24 to 34 characterized in that an input for acoustic signals is fed to the calculation unit over a power-forming unit (45, 47).

36. Apparatus according to claim 26 characterized in that the transfer path (117) of the hearing device is arranged between a time-domain-to-frequency-domain transformation unit (110) and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain transformation unit (114), and the calculation unit is effectively connected to the transfer path input and to the transfer path output.

23. Apparatus for the adjustment of a hearing device to an individual characterized in that it comprises:

at least one calculation unit (11;

53;

53′

;

118, 120;

53a, 118a;

150) in which a model (L, F_f, ZMG) is implemented, which model simulates the dependence of the psycho-acoustic perception variable of men on acoustic signals, and with which calculation unit, at its input, an input acts on signals which are dependent on acoustic signals,

a comparison unit (15;

59;

116;

122;

116a, 122a;

152), of which its input acts on the output of the calculation unit, whereas a further input of the comparison unit is taking effect on an input to input a quantified psycho-acoustic perception variable,

whereas the comparison unit outputs signals for the concept or for the adjustment or for the guidance of the transfer behavior of the hearing device.

26. Apparatus according to one of claims 23 to 25 characterized in that the apparatus in the hearing device comprises at least a calculation unit which is connected, at its input, to a memory unit and to which signals are fed in function of the input and/or output signals of the hearing device, whereas the calculation unit, at its output, is taking effect on adjustment elements for the transmission at the hearing device.

33. Apparatus according to one of claims 23 to 32 characterized in that a loudness model is implemented in the at least one calculation unit according to (1)

34. Apparatus according to one of claims 23 to 33 characterized in that an intermediate memory unit (55, 57) is connected to two inputs of the comparison unit.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 characterized in that a further transfer path (148) is provided before the time-domain-to-frequency-domain transformation unit (110), and that a calculation unit (150), at its input, is effectively connected to the input as well as to the output of the further transfer path (148), and that the calculation unit (150) performs model simulations by using the output and input signals of the further transfer path, whereas a comparison unit (152) compares the simulation results and adjusts, at its output, the further transfer path (148).

38. Apparatus according to claim 37 characterized in that the further transfer path comprises adjustable time delay means, preferably with WSOLA-algorithms.

40. Hearing device according to claim 39 characterized in that the calculation unit calculates the model with at least two parameter sets, starting each of hearing device input and output signals, and adjusts the transmission in function of the model difference between input and output signals.

39. Hearing device characterized in that it comprises a calculation unit which simulates the perception of at least one psycho-acoustic value through men on received acoustic signals.