METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FITTING HEARING DEVICES

• US 20120183166A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schneider, Philipp, Baur, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/497,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20120183166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A method for adjusting a second hearing device in dependence of a first hearing device is proposed. Therein, the first hearing device has been, by means of a first fitting system, individually adjusted to needs and preferences of a specific hearing device user. The method comprises the steps of

• a1) providing data (165) related to the first hearing device;
• a2) providing data (155) related to the first fitting system;
• d1′) adjusting the second hearing device in dependence of the data (165) related to said first hearing device and of the data (155) related to said first fitting system.

The corresponding apparatus is disclosed, too. A fitting can be transferred from the first hearing device to the second hearing device.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing an adjusted second hearing device adjusted in dependence of a first hearing device, wherein said first hearing device has been, by means of a first fitting system, individually adjusted to needs and preferences of a specific hearing device user, said method comprising the steps of

a1) providing data related to said first hearing device;

a2) providing data related to said first fitting system;

d1′

) adjusting said second hearing device in dependence of said data related to said first hearing device and of said data related to said first fitting system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second fitting system is used for adjusting said second hearing device, said method further comprising the step of

d2′

) adjusting said second fitting system in dependence of said data related to said first hearing device and of said data related to said first fitting system.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said data related to said first hearing device comprise data descriptive of hearing device parameter settings of said first hearing device individually adjusted for said specific hearing device user and, in addition, data descriptive of properties of said first hearing device which are not individual to said specific hearing device user.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said data related to said first fitting system comprise data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments carried out during adjusting said first hearing device using said first fitting system and, in addition, data descriptive of properties of said first fitting system which are not individual to said specific hearing device user.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a second fitting system is used for adjusting said second hearing device, said method comprising the steps of

a) providing a first data set comprising first hearing device modelling data and first fitting modelling data;

wherein said first hearing device modelling data comprise

first hearing device settings description data descriptive of hearing device settings, in particular parameter settings, of said first hearing device individually adjusted for said specific hearing device user; and

, in addition,

first hearing device system description data descriptive of properties, in particular of hardware and software properties, of said first hearing device which are not individual to said specific hearing device user; and

wherein first fitting modelling data comprise

first fitting-adjustments description data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments carried out during adjusting said first hearing device using said first fitting system; and

, in addition,

first fitting system description data descriptive of properties of said first fitting system which are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

b1) providing second hearing device system description data descriptive of properties, in particular of hardware and software properties, of said second hearing device which are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

b2) providing second fitting system description data descriptive of properties of said second fitting system which are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

c1) deriving, in dependence of

said first data set;

said second hearing device system description data; and

said second fitting system description data;

 

second hearing device settings description data descriptive of hearing device settings, in particular parameter settings, applicable to said second hearing device; and

d1) adjusting said second hearing device according to said second hearing device settings description data.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising the steps of

c2) deriving, in dependence of

said first data set;

said second hearing device system description data; and

said second fitting system description data;

 

second fitting-adjustments description data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments applicable to said second fitting system; and

d2) carrying out adjustments of said second fitting systems according to said second fitting-adjustments description data.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising the steps of

e1) creating second hearing device modelling data comprising said second hearing device settings description data and said second hearing device system description data;

e2) creating second fitting modelling data comprising said second fitting-adjustments description data and said second fitting system description data;

f) creating a second data set comprising said second hearing device modelling data and said second fitting modelling data; and

d) carrying out adjustments of said second fitting system in dependence of said second data set.

8. The method according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said first data set is written in a fitting description language which is a computer language by means of which fitting processes and environments are describable in a generalized way.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising the step of

g) obtaining said first data set written in said fitting description language from a corresponding data set having a different data structure or data format characteristic for said first hearing device and/or for said first fitting system.

10. The method according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein data in said first data set are logically arranged in a tree structure.

11. The method according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein said first fitting-adjustments description data comprise first baseline-fitting data and, in addition, first fine-tuning data, wherein said baseline-fitting data are obtained by applying a fitting rationale to first fitting-rationale input data, and wherein said first fine-tuning data are descriptive of additional fitting system parameter adjustments carried out during adjusting said first hearing device using said first fitting system after applying said baseline-fitting data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first baseline-fitting data comprise at least one of the group consisting of

first fitting rationale input data and data descriptive of a first fitting rationale applied to said first fitting rationale input data during adjusting said first hearing device;

and

data descriptive of a first result obtained, during fitting said first hearing device, by applying a first fitting rationale to first fitting rationale input data;

the method comprising the steps of

j) applying a second fitting rationale to second fitting rationale input data, obtaining a second result; and

k) comparing said first result with said second result;

wherein said second hearing device settings description data depend on the result of said comparison, and wherein said second fitting rationale is either identical with or different from said first fitting rationale, and wherein said second fitting rationale input data are either identical with or different from said first fitting rationale input data.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the steps of

c2′

) deriving, in dependence of

said first data set;

said second hearing device system description data;

said second fitting system description data; and

said result of said comparison;

 

second fitting-adjustments description data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments applicable to said second fitting system; and

d2) carrying out adjustments of said second fitting systems according to said second fitting-adjustments description data.

14. Apparatus for adjusting a second hearing device in dependence of a first hearing device, wherein said first hearing device has been, by means of a first fitting system, individually adjusted to needs and preferences of a specific hearing device user, said apparatus comprising a fitting transfer unit structured and configured for

receiving data related to said first hearing device;

receiving data related to said first fitting system; and

deriving, in dependence of said data related to said first hearing device and said data related to said first fitting system, second hearing device settings description data descriptive of hearing device settings applicable to said second hearing device, in particular parameter settings for said said second hearing device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said fitting transfer unit is structured and configured for

outputting said second hearing device settings description data;

and in particular structured and configured for

outputting said second hearing device settings description data to said second hearing device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said fitting transfer unit is structured and configured for

i) receiving a first data set comprising first hearing) device modelling data and first fitting modelling data;

wherein said first hearing device modelling data comprise

first hearing device settings description data descriptive of hearing device settings, in particular parameter settings, of said first hearing device individually adjusted for said specific hearing device user; and

, in addition,

first hearing device system description data descriptive of properties, in particular of hardware and software properties, of said first hearing device which are not individual to said specific hearing device user; and

wherein first fitting modelling data comprise

first fitting-adjustments description data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments carried out during adjusting said first hearing device using said first fitting system; and

, in addition,

first fitting system description data descriptive of properties of said first fitting system which are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

ii) receiving second hearing device system description data descriptive of properties, in particular of hardware and software properties, of said second hearing device which are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

iii) receiving second fitting system description data descriptive of properties of a second fitting system suitable for adjusting said second hearing device, wherein said second fitting system description data are not individual to said specific hearing device user;

iv) deriving said second hearing device settings description data in dependence of

said first data set;

said second hearing device system description data; and

said second fitting system description data.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, comprising said second fitting system.

18. Computer program product comprising program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of

A1) providing or receiving data related to a first hearing device;

A2) providing or receiving data related to a first fitting system, wherein said first hearing device has been, by means of said first fitting system, individually adjusted to needs and preferences of a specific hearing device user; and

C) deriving, in dependence of said data related to said first hearing device and of said data related to said first fitting system, second hearing device settings description data descriptive of hearing device settings applicable to a second hearing device, in particular parameter settings for said said second hearing device.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said program code is configured to cause said computer to perform the step of

D1) adjusting said second hearing device in dependence of said second hearing device settings description data.

20. Computer-readable medium comprising program code as described in claim 18 or claim 19.

21. Use of data related to a first fitting system, in particular of data descriptive of properties of said first fitting system, for determining data for adjusting a second hearing device, wherein said first hearing device has been, by means of a first fitting system, individually adjusted to needs and preferences of a specific hearing device user.

22. The use according to claim 21, wherein said data related to said first fitting system comprise data descriptive of fitting system parameter adjustments carried out during adjusting said first hearing device using said first fitting system.