METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEARING APPARATUS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD AND HEARING APPARATUS WITH FEEDBACK SUPPRESSION

• US 20100226516A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Lauer, Johannes, Grafenberg, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/719,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20100226516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/39 Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically

Abstract

A method for operating a hearing apparatus includes determining feedback events, in which feedback suppression responds and/or in which feedback is detected above a predeterminable feedback threshold value, determining a frequency of the feedback events within a predeterminable duration and emitting a signal if the determined frequency exceeds a predeterminable frequency threshold value. A time instant for changing an earmold which is no longer optimally positioned and is the cause of a frequent feedback can therefore be advantageously predicted in a timely manner. A computer program product for implementing the method and a hearing apparatus with acoustic feedback suppression and/or acoustic feedback identification, are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hearing apparatus having at least one of feedback suppression responding upon occurrence of an acoustic feedback or acoustic feedback identification, the method comprising the following steps:

determining feedback events in which at least one of the feedback suppression responds or feedback is detected above a predeterminable feedback threshold value;

determining a frequency of the feedback events within a predeterminable duration; and

outputting a signal if the determined frequency exceeds a predeterminable frequency threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency threshold value is less than a predeterminable acceptance value, and the frequency threshold value is determined from an interpolation of the acceptance value.

3. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises implementing the interpolation with the aid of a frequency distribution of the feedback events as a function of time, and extrapolating the frequency distribution up to the acceptance value.

4. The method according to claim 3, which further comprises determining an acceptance time instant on a basis of a curve of a frequency with which the acceptance value is reached.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises emitting the signal acoustically or optically.

6. A computer software product stored on a memory executable by a control unit to perform the steps according to claim 1.

7. A hearing apparatus, comprising:

at least one of a feedback suppression unit responding upon occurrence of an acoustic feedback or an acoustic feedback identification unit;

an event unit for determining feedback events in which at least one of the feedback suppression responds or a feedback above a predeterminable feedback threshold value can be detected;

a computing unit for determining a frequency of the feedback events within a predeterminable time period; and

a signal unit for emitting a signal if the determined frequency exceeds a predeterminable frequency threshold value.

8. The hearing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the frequency threshold value is less than a predeterminable acceptance value, and said computing unit is configured for determining the frequency threshold value from an interpolation of the acceptance value.

9. The hearing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the interpolation in said computing unit can be implemented on the basis of a frequency distribution of the feedback events as a function of time, with the frequency distribution being extrapolated up to the acceptance value.

10. The hearing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said computing unit is configured for determining, with the aid of a curve of the frequency, an acceptance time instant at which the acceptance value is likely to be reached.

11. The hearing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said signal unit is configured for outputting the signal acoustically or optically.

12. The hearing apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a remote controller for emitting the signal.

13. The hearing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hearing apparatus includes an in-the-ear hearing device.