Interactive hearing aid fitting system and methods
First Claim
1. A handheld device for interactively fitting a programmable hearing device, the handheld device comprising:
- an audio signal generator configured to deliver test audio input signals corresponding to sound segments at predetermined suprathreshold loudness levels to a non-acoustic audio input of the programmable hearing device in-situ; and
a programming interface configured to deliver a programming signal to the programmable hearing device in-situ and to program fitting parameters of the programming hearing device in-situ,wherein the programmable hearing device is configured to deliver an acoustic output representative of the test audio input signals and according to the fitting parameters, andwherein the handheld device is configured to deliver the programming signal interactively to adjust plurality of the fitting parameters according to a perceptual assessment of a consumer listening to the acoustic output of the programmable hearing device in-situ, wherein the adjustments comprise a first adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively loud level sound and a second adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively soft level sound.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems of interactive fitting of a hearing aid by a non-expert person without resorting to a clinical setup are disclosed. The system includes an audio generator for delivering test audio signals at predetermined levels to a non-acoustic input of a programmable hearing aid in-situ. The consumer is instructed to listen to the output of the hearing device in-situ and interactively adjust fitting parameters of the programmable hearing aid according to the perceptual assessment of the hearing aid output in-situ. The output is representative of the test audio signal presented to the non-acoustic input. In one embodiment, the fitting system includes a personal computer, a handheld device communicatively coupled to the personal computer, and a fitting software application. In one embodiment, the fitting system includes an earphone for conducting a hearing evaluation.
110 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A handheld device for interactively fitting a programmable hearing device, the handheld device comprising:
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an audio signal generator configured to deliver test audio input signals corresponding to sound segments at predetermined suprathreshold loudness levels to a non-acoustic audio input of the programmable hearing device in-situ; and a programming interface configured to deliver a programming signal to the programmable hearing device in-situ and to program fitting parameters of the programming hearing device in-situ, wherein the programmable hearing device is configured to deliver an acoustic output representative of the test audio input signals and according to the fitting parameters, and wherein the handheld device is configured to deliver the programming signal interactively to adjust plurality of the fitting parameters according to a perceptual assessment of a consumer listening to the acoustic output of the programmable hearing device in-situ, wherein the adjustments comprise a first adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively loud level sound and a second adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively soft level sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for fitting a programmable hearing device, the system comprising:
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a programmable hearing device comprising a non-acoustic audio input configured to receive at least one audio input signal corresponding to a sound segment at a predetermined suprathreshold loudness level and deliver an audible output in-situ, wherein the audible output is representative of the audio input signal according to fitting parameters programmed into the programmable hearing device; an audio signal generator configured to deliver of the at least one audio input signal, wherein at least one audio input signal is delivered to the non-acoustic audio input; an ear phone configured to receive at least one audio input signal from the audio signal generator and deliver calibrated test sounds to a consumer'"'"'s ear; a programming interface configured to deliver programming signals to the programmable hearing device in-situ; and a personal computer configured to execute a fitting application to allow adjustment of a plurality of the fitting parameters according to a subjective assessment by the consumer listening to the audible output from the programmable hearing device in-situ, wherein the adjustments comprise a first adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively loud level sound and a second adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively soft level sound. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of interactively fitting a programmable hearing device for a hearing device consumer, the method comprising:
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delivering audio input signals corresponding to sound segments at predetermined suprathreshold loudness levels by a fitting system to a non-acoustic audio input of the programmable hearing device in-situ; delivering an acoustic output from the programmable hearing device in-situ, wherein the acoustic output is representative of the audio input signals, according to fitting parameters programmed into the programmable hearing device; adjusting a plurality of the fitting parameters of the programmable hearing device in-situ, according to a subjective assessment by the consumer listening to the acoustic output, wherein the adjustments comprise a first adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively loud level sound and a second adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively soft level sound; and delivering a programming signal from the fitting system to the programmable hearing device to implement the adjustment of at least one of the fitting parameters of the programmable hearing device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of fitting a programmable hearing device for a hearing device consumer using a fitting system, the method comprising:
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administering a hearing test by delivering acoustic test signals corresponding to sound segments at predetermined suprathreshold loudness levels from the fitting system to an ear of the consumer; delivering test audio input signals from the fitting system to a non-acoustic audio input of the programmable hearing device in-situ; delivering an output from the programmable hearing device in-situ to the ear of the consumer, wherein the output is representative of the test audio input signals, according to fitting parameters programmed into the programmable hearing device; adjusting a plurality of the fitting parameters by the fitting system according to a subjective response of the consumer to the output from the programmable hearing device, wherein the adjustments comprise a first adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively loud level sound and a second adjustment made to one or more fitting parameters corresponding to a relatively soft level sound; and delivering a programming signal from the fitting system to implement an adjustment of at least one of the fitting parameters. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification