Self-adjustment of a hearing aid and hearing aid

• US 8,848,954 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Balke, Mark, Giese, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Phan
• Application Number:
  US12/870,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 381/315, 381/314, 381/312, 381/60
• US Class Current: 381/321
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The adjustment of the signal processing carried out by a hearing aid to the individual hearing loss of a user is intended to be simplified. For this purpose, a number of predefined adjustment programs, from which the user selects a suitable program by operating an operating element, are provided in the hearing aid. Neither a visit to a hearing aid acoustician nor special adjustment devices is/are required for adjustment.

Claims

1. A method for self-adjusting a hearing aid by a user to an individual hearing loss of the user, which comprises the steps of:

transferring the hearing aid to a self-adjustment mode for fundamentally adjusting the hearing aid to the individual hearing loss of the user;

selecting an adjustment program from a multiplicity of adjustment programs predefined in the hearing aid by means of an operating element, the adjustment programs which can be set in the self-adjustment mode differing in terms of a gain at least essentially only above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value of a frequency range which can be transmitted by the hearing aid, the adjustment programs allowing no amplification to be carried out below said first threshold value and allowing maximum amplification above said second threshold value at which the hearing aid can still be reliably operated in a stable manner;

setting parameters relating to at least one of a transfer function, a compression, a noise reduction, a directivity or a feedback suppression by selecting the adjustment program;

setting different adjustment programs by means of the operational element disposed on the hearing aid or on a remote control separate from the hearing aid; and

terminating the self-adjustment mode and operating the hearing aid on the basis of a selected adjustment program.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises presetting a particular adjustment program in the self-adjustment mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises presetting one of a predefined adjustment program with a relatively low gain and a predefined adjustment program with a lowest gain in the self-adjustment mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the operating element in the self-adjustment mode results in a setting of the adjustment program with a higher gain for a particular frequency range than a currently set adjustment program.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the operating element in the self-adjustment mode results in a setting of the adjustment program with a lower gain for a particular frequency range than a currently set adjustment program.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises selecting from at least three predefined adjustment programs.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises emitting an acoustic signal by the hearing aid for selecting the adjustment program, and the acoustic signal being emitted on a basis of a currently set adjustment program.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is in the self-adjustment mode after being switched on and the adjustment program selected last before the hearing aid was switched off is set.

9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:

automatically measuring a discomfort threshold;

increasing, via the hearing aid, a volume of an acoustic test signal until the operating element is operated; and

defining at least one of a maximum gain and a maximum output power of the hearing aid at least for a particular frequency range on a basis of a volume set last.

10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises measuring an open loop gain in the self-adjustment mode.

11. A hearing aid assembly, comprising:

a hearing aid programmed to;

transfer the hearing aid to a self-adjustment mode for fundamentally adjusting the hearing aid to an individual hearing loss of the user;

select an adjustment program from a multiplicity of adjustment programs predefined in said hearing aid by means of an operating element, the adjustment programs which can be set in the self-adjustment mode differing in terms of a gain at least essentially only above a first threshold value and below a second threshold value of a frequency range which can be transmitted by said hearing aid, the adjustment programs allowing no amplification to be carried out below the first threshold value and allowing maximum amplification above the second threshold value at which the hearing aid can still be reliably operated in a stable manner; and

set parameters relating to at least one of a transfer function, a compression, a noise reduction, a directivity or a feedback suppression by selecting the adjustment program;

set different adjustment programs by means of the operational element disposed on the hearing aid or a remote control separate from the hearing aid; and

terminate the self-adjustment mode and operating said hearing aid on a basis of a selected adjustment program.

12. The hearing aid assembly according to claim 11, wherein said hearing aid is simple to adjust to hearing needs of a user.