METHOD FOR FINE-TUNING A HEARING AID AND HEARING AID

• US 20110051963A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Barthel, Roland, Giese, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US12/868,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051963A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• 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

The fine-tuning of the signal processing in a hearing aid or hearing aid system to the individual user should be simplified and improved. For this, the current hearing situation is recognized automatically and the user is automatically presented with a selection of questions from a comprehensive list of questions as a function of the hearing situation. A user input as a reaction of the user to the selected questions leads to the tuning of at least one parameter relating to the signal processing in the hearing aid.

Claims

1. A method for user-individual fine-tuning of signal processing in a hearing aid, the method which comprises:

recording an acoustic input signal and converting the acoustic input signal into an electrical input signal;

identifying a hearing situation with the aid of the electrical input signal;

adjusting at least one parameter relating to the signal processing in dependence on the hearing situation identified in the identifying step;

providing a list of questions;

selecting at least one question from the list of questions in dependence on the hearing situation;

presenting the selected question to the user;

acquiring a user input as a reaction of the user to the selected question; and

tuning at least one parameter of the signal processing in the hearing aid in dependence on the user input.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises providing an external unit, external to the hearing aid, and performing at least one of the following steps with the external unit:

recording the acoustic input signal, recognizing the hearing situation;

adjusting the parameter;

providing the list of questions;

presenting the selected question;

registering the user input; and

/or tuning the parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises presenting the selected question by voice output.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises presenting the selected question on a display.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is acquired through manual actuation of an operating element.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is acquired through voice input.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input also affects adjusting the parameter if the relevant hearing situation is subsequently recognized again.

8. A hearing aid or hearing aid system configured to carry out the method according to claim 1, comprising:

an input transducer for recording an acoustic input signal and for converting the acoustic signal into an electrical input signal;

a classifier connected to receive the electrical input signal and configured to identify a given hearing situation with the aid of the electrical input signal;

an adjustment device connected to said classifier for adjusting at least one parameter relating to signal processing in dependence on an identified hearing situation identified by said classifier;

a memory containing a list of questions;

a selection device connected to said memory for selecting at least one question from the list of questions in dependence on the hearing situation;

an output device connected to said selection device for presenting the selected question to the user;

an input device for registering a user input as a reaction of the user to the selected question;

means for tuning the parameter as a function of the user input.

9. The hearing aid system according to claim 8, comprising at least one hearing aid to be worn on or in the ear of a user and an external processor unit.

10. The hearing aid system according to claim 9, wherein said external processor unit is a remote control unit for said hearing aid.

11. The hearing aid system according to claim 9, wherein said external processor unit comprises a display forming the output device.

12. The hearing aid system according to claim 9, wherein said external processor unit comprises at least one operating element forming said input device.

13. A hearing aid or hearing aid system, comprising:

an input transducer for recording an acoustic input signal and for converting the acoustic signal into an electrical input signal;

a classifier connected to receive the electrical input signal and configured to identify a given hearing situation with the aid of the electrical input signal;

an adjustment device connected to said classifier for adjusting at least one parameter relating to signal processing in dependence on an identified hearing situation identified by said classifier;

a memory containing a list of questions;

a selection device connected to said memory for selecting at least one question from the list of questions in dependence on the hearing situation;

an output device connected to said selection device for presenting the selected question to the user;

an input device for registering a user input as a reaction of the user to the selected question;

means for tuning the parameter as a function of the user input.

14. The hearing aid system according to claim 13, comprising at least one hearing aid to be worn on or in the ear of a user and an external processor unit.

15. The hearing aid system according to claim 14, wherein said external processor unit is a remote control unit for said hearing aid.

16. The hearing aid system according to claim 14, wherein said external processor unit comprises a display forming the output device.

17. The hearing aid system according to claim 14, wherein said external processor unit comprises at least one operating element forming said input device.