Systems and Methods for Remotely Tuning Hearing Devices

• US 20100232613A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited, University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Holmes, Alice E., Krause, Lee S., Banerjee, Bonny, Shrivastav, Rahul
• Granted Patent: US 9,553,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36039 fitting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/065 Aids for the handicapped in understanding
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/69 for evaluating synthetic or decoded voice signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2474 Telephone terminals specially adapted for disabled people user interfaces for cordless or mobile telephones specially adapted for disabled users H04M1/72475; network based special services or facilities for hearing-impaired persons H04M3/42391; devices for conversing with the deaf-blind G09B21/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/26 with means for applying test signals or for measuring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• 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

A method of tuning a hearing device includes sending a test signal to a model of a hearing device that may be remote from the actual hearing device being tuned. The test signal is encoded by the model and sent to the hearing device being tuned. The user of that hearing device sends a response signal based at least in part on the encoded test signal. This response is received and compared to the original test signal. Thereafter, an operational parameter is sent to the hearing device based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A system for tuning a hearing device, the system comprising:

a first transmitter for sending a test signal to a model of a hearing device;

an encoder for encoding the test signal;

a processor for setting a parameter of the model, wherein the parameter is based at least in part on the measured response;

a second transmitter for sending the encoded test signal to a hearing device associated with a user;

a receiver for receiving a user response, wherein the user response is based at least in part on the encoded signal;

a comparison module for comparing the user response to the test signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a test set generator for generating a test signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the test set generator and the comparison module are located remote from the hearing device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal encoder and the model of the hearing device are located remote from the hearing device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment module for selecting an operational parameter of the hearing device based at least in part on a comparison of the user response and the test signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second transmitter transmits the operational parameter to the hearing device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the encoded test signal comprises at least one distinctive feature of speech.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one distinctive feature of speech comprises at least one of a fundamental source feature, a secondary consonantal source feature, and a resonance feature.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an association module for associating the operational parameter of the hearing device with the at least one distinctive feature of speech.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the encoded test signal is sent over a network.

11. A digital hearing device comprising the system of claim 1.

12. A method of tuning a hearing device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a test signal to a model of a hearing device;

encoding the test signal;

sending the encoded test signal to a hearing device associated with a user;

receiving a user response based at least in part on the encoded test signal;

comparing the user response with the test signal; and

sending at least one operational parameter to the hearing device based at least in part on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of selecting a test signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the test signal comprises at least one feature of speech.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the encoding step comprises digitizing the at least one feature of speech.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the encoding step comprises adjusting a characteristic of the feature of speech.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic of the feature of speech comprises at least one of a fundamental source feature, a secondary consonantal source feature, and a resonance feature.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the test signal comprises an electrical signal corresponding to a stimuli comprising at least one feature of speech.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of associating the operational parameter of the hearing device with the at least one feature of speech.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the encoded test signal is sent over a network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the network is TCP/IP enabled.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the model of the hearing device is located remote from the hearing device.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the model of the hearing device is collocated with the hearing device.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving at the hearing device the encoded test signal and processing the encoded test signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the processing step comprises reproducing the at least one feature of speech.

26. An article of manufacture having computer-readable program portions embedded thereon for tuning a hearing device, the program portions comprising:

instructions for sending a test signal to a model of a hearing device;

instructions for encoding the test signal;

instructions for sending the encoded test signal to a hearing device associated with a user;

instructions for receiving a user response based at least in part on the encoded test signal;

instructions for comparing the user response with the test signal; and

instructions for sending at least one operational parameter to the hearing device based at least in part on the comparison.