METHOD OF INITIALIZING A BINAURAL LHEARING AID SYSTEM AND A HEARING AID

• US 20120148054A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Rank, Mike Lind, Kidmose, Preben
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/23.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

In a method of initializing a binaural hearing aid system (1) both ipse- and contra-lateral individualized adjustment data are stored in both hearing aids of the binaural hearing aid system for transmission between the hearing aids. This provides an easy backup of the data. The invention further provides a hearing aid having means adapted for performing such a method.

Claims

1. A method for initialization of a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid of a binaural hearing aid system, said method comprising the steps of

programming said first hearing aid with a first set of individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of the first ear of the intended user,

programming said second hearing aid with a second set of individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of the second ear of the intended user,

sending the first set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said first hearing aid, for storage in said second hearing aid, and

sending the second set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said second hearing aid, for storage in said first hearing aid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein

the step of programming said first hearing aid with the first set of individualized adjustment data is carried out by a hearing aid fitter, and

the step of programming said second hearing aid with the second set of individualized adjustment data is carried out by a hearing aid fitter.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

powering off said first and said second hearing aid, and

powering on said first and said second hearing aid, thereby prompting the sending of the first set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said first hearing aid, and the sending of the second set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said second hearing aid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individualized adjustment data comprise filter coefficients for filters in a signal processing path of said first hearing aid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein calibration data are sent together with the individualized adjustment data.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein data identifying failure of one or more hearing aid components are sent together with the individualized adjustment data.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising

replacing said first hearing aid with a third hearing aid,

determining if said third hearing aid comprises ipse-lateral adjustment data and in case it does not:

sending the first set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said second hearing aid for storage in said third hearing aid, and

sending the second set of programmed individualized adjustment data from said second hearing aid for storage in said third hearing aid.

8. The method according to claim 7 comprising the steps of

sending ipse-lateral calibration data from said first hearing aid for storage in said third hearing aid, and

receiving and storing said ipse-lateral calibration data in said third hearing aid.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining in at least one of said first and said second hearing aid that the steps of the initialization process have been completed.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising increasing the gain of said first hearing aid in order to account for the lack of the binaural loudness summation effect, while said second hearing aid is not operational.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuration of at least one of said first and said second hearing aids in order to alleviate the failure of one or more hearing aid components.

12. A first hearing aid of a binaural hearing aid system comprising

transceiver means adapted for providing a bidirectional communication link with a second hearing aid of the binaural hearing aid system,

first memory means adapted for storing ipse-lateral individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of the intended user,

second memory means adapted for storing contra-lateral individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of the intended user,

means for determining whether individualized adjustment data are stored in said first hearing aid,

means for detecting when a second hearing aid is powered up,

means for sending individualized adjustment data, and

means for receiving and storing individualized adjustment data.

13. The first hearing aid according to claim 12 characterized by comprising third memory means adapted for storing contra-lateral calibration data.

14. The first hearing aid according to claim 12 characterized by comprising fourth memory means adapted for storing ipse-lateral calibration data.

15. A binaural hearing aid system comprising

a first hearing aid, said first hearing aid having first transceiver means;

a second hearing aid, said second hearing aid having second transceiver means;

said first and said second transceiver means being adapted for providing a bidirectional communication link between said first and said second hearing aid;

wherein said first hearing aid has first memory means adapted for storing ipse-lateral individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of a first ear of the intended user, second memory means adapted for storing contra-lateral individualized adjustment data adapted to the specific compensation requirements of a second ear of the intended user, means for determining whether individualized adjustment data are stored in said first hearing aid, and means for detecting when said second hearing aid is powered up; and

wherein said first transceiver means is adapted for transmitting individualized adjustment data, and for receiving and storing individualized adjustment data.