EP1414271B1 - Method for recording of information in a hearing aid and such a hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing aid or in a recording unit operatively connected thereto at least temporarily, and to a hearing aid.

Modern hearing aids are adapted to the individual needs of hearing aid wearers, the most important adaptation in the case of use in the medical field being that the hearing aid can compensate or correct a hearing loss existing in a patient. For this purpose, for example, an audiogram of the patient is created, due to which different settings are made in the hearing aid. Furthermore, modern hearing aids offer the possibility of automatically or manually selecting one of several hearing programs available in the hearing aid. As a result, the hearing aid wearer is given the opportunity to optimally adapt his hearing aid to various acoustic environmental situations.

These versatile adjustment options, be they manual or automatic, often give rise to confusion on the part of the hearing aid wearer, since it is difficult for the inexperienced hearing aid user to choose the correct setting, but on the other hand an automatic selection of a hearing program can often be made by the hearing aid user not be understood.

• Anzahl der Hörprogrammwechsel;
• Wie oft ein bestimmtes Hörprogramm verwendet worden ist, wobei ein gewähltes Hörprogramm eine Mindestdauer im Einsatz sein muss; und
• Wie lange jedes der möglichen Hörprogramme aktiv war.

For this reason, it has already been proposed to record certain information in the hearing device, which allows an analysis of acoustic situations that have occurred in retrospect. So is in U.S. 4,972,487 a hearing aid that has a storage unit in which the following information can be recorded:

• Number of hearing program changes;
• How many times a particular hearing program has been used, whereby a selected hearing program must have a minimum duration of use; and
• How long each of the possible programs was active.

Furthermore, it will open U.S. 5,210,803 directed. This publication also describes a hearing aid with a memory unit. However, and in contrast to the first-mentioned document, the memory unit is used here for storing certain properties of the hearing aid, due to which the hearing aid can be clearly identified. Thus, it should be noted that even during the production of a hearing aid certain information can be stored in the memory unit, such as the manufacturer or technical data such as the set gain.

For the sake of completeness, reference is made to a further known data recording variant which is described in WO 00/41 440 is described. As with the prior art described above, this is also known in this teaching to a hearing aid with a memory unit for recording information during operation of the hearing aid. The information to be recorded here is solely the recording of the time of use of a hearing aid. This creates the opportunity to charge the actual use of a hearing aid to the user. Furthermore, it is proposed that after reaching a predetermined period of use, some properties of the hearing aid can only be used to a limited extent. A waiver of such restrictions can be achieved by paying a fee.

Furthermore, be on EP-1 206 163 A1 and EP0335542A2 referenced, in which the already explained prior art is again documented.

It has been found that all the known methods for recording data are not sufficiently flexible in order to be able to explain and subsequently correct the actual cause of an incorrect setting or an automatic setting unexpected for the hearing device user. The fact is that the extremely large variety of possible causes for a malfunction of a hearing aid, which can not be satisfactorily managed with known methods. As a result, the fitting process with known data recording methods is extremely complicated and time-consuming.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of first providing a method for recording information in a hearing aid and / or in a recording unit operatively connected thereto at least temporarily, which enables the complete determination of possible false positives or unexpected settings in certain situations. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to obtain maximum support in the adaptation of a hearing aid in order to simplify the fitting process considerably.

These objects are achieved by the measures indicated in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

The invention has the following advantages: By adjusting a time of recording as well as the information to be recorded, such as data and / or parameters and / or settings of the hearing aid, the adaptation of a hearing aid to the individual wishes and the optimal hearing loss for a hearing aid user for the first time. In this case, the plurality of parameters that can be set in a hearing aid can be checked or monitored in real, ie actually existing, acoustic environments in total or selectively, so that the hearing aid can be optimally adjusted or adjusted as a consequence, ie after the analysis by the acoustician , Just because of the variety of possible adjustable parameters, the selective recording according to the invention is of crucial importance. Thus, it is not possible at all times to be able to continuously record all possible parameters and other settings of a hearing aid because this limits both the available storage space and the available energy in the hearing aid.

Even after a hearing aid setting made by an acoustician, the current parameter settings are not necessarily suited to optimally cope with the multitude of possible situations. It is therefore crucial, as realized by the present invention, that the acoustician receives an image of the actual existing acoustic environment situation along with other relevant information - such as information about the occurrence of signal feedback - receives.

In addition, previous solutions do not offer the possibility to use the data recording for hardware diagnosis of the hearing aid, as is the case for example by microphone matching, changing the microphone sensitivity, etc. The acoustician can significantly improve the hearing aid service by the invention and make necessary adjustments significantly faster. In particular, the knowledge about the hardware state of the hearing aid is used for this purpose.

It is expressly understood that the invention is not only for hearing aids - be it behind the ear, in the ear canal or implanted - suitable for the compensation or correction of hearing damage. Rather, the invention can also be used excellently for any hearing aids that are used to improve communication.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, for example. The single figure shows a block diagram of a hearing aid according to the invention.

The single figure shows a schematic representation of a hearing aid, consisting of a microphone 1, a signal processing unit 3 and a speaker unit 5, which is also referred to as a handset, both the microphone 1 and the speaker unit 5 are operatively connected to the signal processing unit 3. When realizing the signal processing in the hearing aid by means of digital technology, as shown in the figure, between the microphone 1 and the signal processing unit 3, an analog / digital converter 2 and between the signal processing unit 3 and the speaker unit 5, a digital / analog converter 4 is provided.

It is expressly understood that although the figure shows only a single microphone, the use of multiple microphones is contemplated, as provided for example in the "beamformer" technology is. In addition, the present invention is particularly suitable for binaural hearing aids, which consist of two connected via a wired or wireless transmission path hearing aid parts.

Furthermore, the hearing device contains a control unit 6, which is operatively connected on the one hand to the signal processing unit 3 and on the other hand to a memory unit 7. Furthermore, a further embodiment of the invention is that is communicated via a connecting device 10 with external processing units, which are located outside the hearing aid. The connection device 10 can support both a wired and a wireless data transmission.

• Hardware-Daten, d.h. im wesentlichen die Konfiguration eines Hörgeräts;
• Kundenspezifische Daten;
• Angaben über die Anpassgeschichte eines Hörgerätes (fitting history);
• Betriebsdaten bzw. laufende Einstellungen oder Zeitsignale;
• Statistische Daten.

By means of, for example, the structure of a hearing aid shown in the figure, a plurality of parameters and information can be recorded in the memory unit 7, which can be divided into the following groups:

• Hardware data, ie essentially the configuration of a hearing aid;
• Customer specific data;
• Information about fitting history of a hearing aid (fitting history);
• Operating data or current settings or time signals;
• Statistical data.

According to the invention, data of individual as well as data of various of the aforementioned information groups can be recorded in the memory unit 7 or in a processing unit or external memory unit external to the hearing device.

Hardware data to be recorded may include, but are not limited to: specifications of vent, hook, microphones, handsets, tubing, shells, types of hearing aids and designs, right or left hearing aid portion in a binaural hearing aid, hearing aid switch, production data such as serial numbers, manufacturing data, identification features the electronics used, version of the (Digital Signal Processing) DSP firmware, version of the DSP algorithms, version of the fitting software used, version of the data logging software used, version of the controller unit, maximum gain, delay across the signal return path, Microphone matching, sound variation data, hearing aid variation data, hearing aid wearer interaction data, etc.

In a binaural hearing aid, which consists of two hearing aid parts, which are connected to each other via a wired or a wireless connection, it is provided according to another embodiment of the present invention to monitor the quality of the connection and record, for example, three stages for the Connection quality are provided: "connection not available", "bad connection" and "good connection". In a characterization of the connection through different quality levels then of course only the quality levels are recorded as a function of time.

With the present invention, the possibility is created for the first time to use the data recording for hardware diagnosis of the hearing aid, as is the case for example by microphone matching, changing the microphone sensitivity, etc. The acoustician can significantly improve the hearing aid service by the invention and make necessary adjustments significantly faster. In particular, the knowledge about the hardware state of the hearing aid is used for this purpose. As an example, mention may be made hereafter of the use of data recording to obtain information about the condition of so-called wind and weather protection, which is mounted as a sound-transmitting cover over the microphone opening:

When a covering designed as a wind and weather protection cover is dirty in a hearing aid, the transfer function of the cover changes, and it is mainly at high frequencies, a strong damping for the sound. These frequencies do not even come into the hearing aid and thus not to the hearing aid wearer. As a result, the hearing aid wearer hears with the hearing aid worse, or the hearing aid does not work well.

A very simple remedy consists in the exchange of trained as wind and weather protection cover the acoustician (or even by the hearing aid wearer himself).

Depending on the use of the hearing aid, the cover must be replaced every 2 to 6 months for a new cover, which can be done very easily by the acoustician. Unfortunately, in most cases the problem of "dirty cover" is not recognized by the acoustician and the hearing aid is unnecessarily sent to the service. This is expensive and causes a lot of unnecessary effort in the service; In addition, the hearing aid wearer must get along without his hearing aid during the time.

The present invention will now be used to internally monitor the condition of the cover and, if necessary, to provide appropriate information or instruction to the hearing aid wearer (such as an audible message "Please consult an acoustician!"). As soon as the acoustician connects the device to the hearing aid fitting program (Fitting Software), a message appears for him, for example "Please replace cover!". For monitoring the state of the cover, for example, the mean spectral level distribution in the sense of the present invention can be recorded. As soon as the high frequencies fall below a critical threshold, the above message is generated to the hearing aid wearer or to the acoustician. The critical threshold can be determined adaptively, during the first time (eg during the first 100 hours) after the Operating the hearing aid, the mean spectral distribution is recorded and stored as a reference.

For further information regarding a trained as a wind and weather protection cover is, for example EP-0 847 227 directed.

Using the hardware data, the acoustician can thus refine his assessment of a hearing aid, which allows him to determine any hardware damage in a short time.

Custom data to be recorded may be, for example, the following: diagnostic data (audiogram, ear impedance, etc.); anatomical data (concha and ear canal), which can be obtained from an ear impression, and directly derived, modeled physical quantities such as RECD (Real Ear to Coupler Difference), OEG (Open Ear Gain) etc.

The invention realizes the recording of the fitting history of a hearing aid for the first time. This stores the fitting parameters, the changes made to the factory settings, as well as the location of the adjustment, the date of the adjustment, and the program version of the fitting software. The knowledge of this data is very advantageous because they can be taken into account in a new fitting process, which a readjustment is simplified and shortened and consistently leads to a better result. In addition, it serves to understand and document the entire "medical history" or fitting history of the hearing aid, which in turn can be used to draw conclusions about the hearing aid wearer or his habits. The acoustician will be able to follow the preferences and wishes of his client for several years and be able to serve each client individually and better.

In addition to the current settings, which may be, for example, information about the hearing program, used filter settings, identified current environmental situation, etc., the invention also makes it possible to record so-called operating data. These are, for example, the acoustic signals recorded by the microphone 1 itself, the registration of the actuation of a switch integrated in the hearing device or the stimuli delivered to the hearing device wearer in the form of acoustic signals or in the form of direct stimulations of the inner ear, such as it is used in implanted hearing aids. For example, a change in the volume is recorded, which is set in a certain acoustic situation by the hearing aid wearer. As a result - for example, if the volume is changed repeatedly in the same way and in the same listening program - each time the hearing program is selected again, the volume is changed by the predetermined amount. Thus, in a further embodiment of the invention Any interactions of the hearing aid wearer are recorded and evaluated in the sense that has just been explained in connection with a change in the volume.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hearing device can be configured so that the corrected parameter sets, which have been changed by the hearing aid wearer according to his desire to hear as described above, are stored in the hearing aid. Does it appear that in a certain acoustic environment situation the hearing aid wearer alters the originally stored parameter set associated with this environmental situation repeatedly in the same way, i. always in the same direction and by the same amount, this originally stored parameter set or the parameter values can be replaced by the changed, corrected parameter set or the parameter values. The corrected parameter set or parameter values will be used as the default setting.

This exchange of the originally stored parameter set or parameter values against the corrected parameter set or parameter values can be automatically learned by the hearing aid itself, eg by a neural network, or by a hearing care professional or the hearing device wearer himself.

Conceivable in this context is an embodiment in which the mentioned automatic adjustability is specified by the acoustician, i. The Acoustician will determine with the hearing aid wearer if manual changes made several times are to be automatically added to the initial setting after a certain time, or if the changes are merely recorded and may be added to the initial adjustment by the hearing care professional after the hearing aid is next adjusted ,

Naturally, a large amount of data accumulates during the recording of acoustic signals, so that due to the limited memory size of the hearing unit present at the time of the present invention, a recording of such data is only possible in an external memory. Consequently, in this case, the hearing aid must be connected via the connecting device 10 to an external storage unit. Restrictions on the continuous recording of large amounts of data are also due to the limited available energy in a hearing aid. Accordingly, energy must be supplied to the hearing aid in the event of continuous data recording in the internal memory unit 7.

In addition, storage of statistical data, such as the amplitude percentiles - or general spatial or spectral level distributions, acoustic characteristics over an adjustable time interval, sound type distributions, sound type change distribution, etc. - possible. Percentiles correspond to an "amplitude" sorting of signals, and are used for example to differentiate the situation. Percentiles or percentile generators are for example in EP-0 732 036 described.

The advantage of the data recording of statistical data lies in a reduced storage space requirement in comparison to the storage of unexplored raw data.

For example, in data logging according to the present invention, events are counted and / or moving averages calculated. Thus, the interaction between the hearing aid wearer and the hearing aid between two fitting operations, which are each made at the acoustician, is shown.

If these two fitting processes are very far apart in time, the last three to four weeks have a very small influence on the averaged values, in other words: the time before the three to four weeks is more heavily weighted. However, this does not correspond to the perception of the hearing aid wearer, who is particularly reminded of the behavior in the last days or in the last weeks.

Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention is that not real averages and events are recorded, but the averages are cleared over time in a way that the effect of a value or an event decreases over time (so-called "Leaky Averager").

The procedure is explained in more detail on the basis of the formation of an average: Normally, the sum of the recorded values and the number of values are stored. For each new measurement, the new value is added to the total and the number of values is incremented at the same time. The mean value can then be calculated at any time by dividing SUM and N.

In the proposed method, the procedure is essentially the same, except that at regular time intervals both the sum and the number of values are multiplied by a number between 0 and 1 (preferably very close to one). As a result, the mean value does not change, but the weight of the older measured values decreases in comparison to the younger measured values. This results in a desired time-weighted statistics, which corresponds to the perception of the hearing aid wearer rather than the current, unweighted calculation of statistical values.

In further embodiments, so-called leaky integrators are provided for the formation of time-weighted statistical values in the hearing device. These include the formation of averages, histograms, variances and standard deviations.

Through a consistent application of this kind of statistics, the sensation of the hearing aid wearer is better in the Data recording according to the present invention is taken into account, and the evaluation of the results of the data recording is considerably simplified for the acoustician.

• Eine intelligente Fernbedienung, welche beispielsweise zum Einstellen von gewissen Parametern des Hörgerätes verwendet wird, wie zum Beispiel Verstärkung oder dergleichen;
• Computer, mobiles Telefon, PDA-(Personal Digital Assistant) oder andere elektronische Geräte, welche beispielsweise über Bluetooth die gewünschte Information an das Hörgerät übertragen; und
• Radiosignal, welche ein Zeitsignal im Langwellenbereich enthalten (atomic clock).

In all the above embodiments, there is an option to record the date and time in the memory unit 7 as an option. In this context, the further problem has been that with every power interruption, for example, by switching off the hearing aid at night, both the date and the time are lost. For this reason, it is proposed in this regard that the current date and the current time at regular intervals or after consultation by the hearing aid is transmitted from the outside to the hearing aid. One or a combination of the following external synchronization units is suitable for this purpose:

• An intelligent remote control, which is used, for example, to set certain parameters of the hearing aid, such as amplification or the like;
• Computer, mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or other electronic devices which transmit, for example via Bluetooth, the desired information to the hearing aid; and
• Radio signal containing a time signal in the long wave range (atomic clock).

The above-mentioned possibilities for time synchronization also create the possibility to implement new applications in the hearing aid, which are based on the availability of date and time. One such application is to implement an audible agenda that will audibly indicate upcoming appointments to the hearing aid wearer, with one option being to implement the agenda in the hearing aid itself. In another embodiment, the relevant data from an external device, such as a PDA, based and only processed by the hearing aid acoustically. In addition to purely time-related information from a separate agenda is also proposed to indicate the intake of drugs acoustically, which must be taken at certain times at certain intervals.

• vorgebbare Tageszeit;
• vorgebbares Datums;
• Werktag bzw. vorgebbarer Werktag;
• bestimmter Feiertag.

In a further embodiment of the invention based on the time synchronization is provided to provide computer programs that perform appropriate actions due to one or more of the following factors:

• definable time of day;
• definable date;
• Working day or specifiable working day;
• certain holiday.

In this embodiment of the invention, the possibility exists, for example, on a normal working day Select automatically hearing program that takes into account the normally prevailing acoustic environment situation in the workplace of the hearing aid wearer in the preparation of the relevant acoustic signals in the best possible way.

The mentioned computer programs can be implemented either in the hearing aid or in an external device, such as in a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Both in a realization in the hearing aid and in an external device synchronizing operations can be provided in a known manner for matching the relevant information between the devices involved. This also takes into account the aspect of increased data security.

For visually impaired persons, the possibility of implementing an acoustic clock in the hearing device opens up in a further embodiment of the invention.

In a further embodiment it is provided that a clock is present in the hearing device in order to be able to measure the absolute time or to generate a time stamp. The remaining aspects of this invention can be realized analogously.

It is expressly understood that the aspect of time synchronization is not limited to the application of data records in or about the hearing aid, but can be used independently.

As already mentioned, the selection of the data to be recorded is freely programmable. This initially gives two advantages:

Firstly, due to the limited battery and storage capacities, only the maximum number of parameters must always be stored. Second, the detection of z. B. Feedback situations require other parameters than the detection of automatic hearing program switching. Various situations can thus be captured authentically by storing the most important parameters. To achieve the best possible setting of the hearing aid, the acoustician decides individually for each hearing aid wearer which of the parameters to be stored represent the best combination for improving the fitting process. By means of suitable programming, it is also possible to change the data or parameters to be recorded during operation. So it can be e.g. make sense that, while a first hearing program is running, the gain (gain) is stored. If a changeover to a second hearing program, so other data, such. As components of environmental noise recorded.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the triggering of the data or information recording, ie the time from which data or information is to be recorded.

In this regard, it is first noted that U.S. 4,972,487 the recording of data from a hearing program change revealed. This process is however fixed on the respective event and can not be changed.

The present invention is characterized in this respect by the fact that the relevant event for the data recording is arbitrary, be it a manual triggering, which is caused for example by the hearing aid wearer itself, this is a programmed release, in which various predefined conditions must be met ,

In the case of manual activation, data recording is triggered manually by the hearing aid user or the acoustician, for example by pressing a button on a remote control or on the hearing aid. The hearing aid wearer can thereby determine which situations are recorded, for example, to prove which situations make him difficult and how the situation presents him. In order to capture even complex situations as completely as possible, the duration of data recording is also freely selectable. The acoustician responsible for the adaptation is thus no longer dependent on artificial laboratory situations, but he can directly the behavior of the hearing aid in the hearing aid wearer as critical understand perceived situations and make improvements as part of a new fitting.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a periodic recording of data is provided (so-called frequency triggering). The period duration, i. the trigger frequency is adjustable or automatically changes according to a preset programmable pattern. By varying the trigger frequency and the recording length, the storage space required for recording the data can be reduced and the recording frequency can be adapted to the parameter to be recorded. The data recorded over a longer period of time therefore give an overall picture of the acoustic situations surrounding the hearing device wearer as well as the respectively corresponding settings of the hearing aid. Using this data, the acoustician can adapt all settings of the hearing aid better and, above all, more individually to the hearing aid wearer.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the data recording takes place automatically, for example by certain characteristics of the acoustic environment (eg when a certain volume, signal / noise ratio, etc. is reached or exceeded) or by certain properties of the hearing aid such as automatic program changes or the occurrence of feedback. One speaks therefore of event control of the data recording. The actual triggering event is freely selectable according to the invention and may vary from hearing aid wearer to hearing aid wearer differ. Is z. B. a hearing aid wearer automatic program change in certain situations unpleasant, so the acoustician can determine exactly this program change as a trigger event. By recording the data on the occurrence of the event then the acoustic scenes, as well as possibly the settings of the hearing aid, documented. The acoustician can then make an improved setting of the hearing aid after the analysis of the data, so that it no longer comes to this unwanted automatic program change in the hearing aid.

For hearing instrument designers, this mode also has the advantage that the choice of automatic operation settings can be tested and controlled depending on the actual acoustic environment.

In all the embodiments described, a storage unit is either in the hearing aid and / or there is an external memory which is located outside the hearing aid, in which or in which the data or information is recorded. In this regard, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention to divide the memory unit and / or the external memory into two or more sectors, wherein function-specific information or time-specific information is stored in each sector.

In a preferred embodiment, the memory unit and / or the external memory are divided into three sectors, distinguishing between a single sector, a trailer sector and an overwrite sector.

In the single sector, data is recorded throughout the lifetime of the hearing aid. It is meaningful, e.g. the recording of production data such as microphone type, handset or speaker type, etc. This sector of the memory unit or the external memory can not be deleted.

In the append sector ("continent sector"), the information to be recorded is always appended to the last stored information. The storage unit or the external memory are thus filled from beginning to end successively with the latest information. By using this mode, e.g. the fitting history of a hearing aid (fitting history) is documented over a very long period of time. Again, this sector can not be erased but, unlike the individual sector, it continues to be described.

Finally, the overwrite sector is used to record the information that is generated during operation. After a certain period of time because of certain events, the data recording took place, the data after an evaluation is no longer needed.

The acoustician or the hearing aid wearer releases the memory space - for example by means of suitable manipulations on a remote control, on the hearing aid or by means of a connected programming and reading unit. The sector can thus be rewritten after the evaluation. Thus, for example, it is conceivable that a hearing aid user would like to have a certain situation documented by the data recording, but is not yet satisfied with the previous recorded situations, since they are e.g. did not have the expected volume, or no feedback occurred. In this case, it is possible to delete the stored data again. This frees up space to record new data. The overwrite sector is particularly suitable for recording the gain, signal feedback, program change or for acoustic signals.

In a further embodiment, the overwrite sector is implemented as a circular buffer in which the oldest data is overwritten with the most recent data. Accordingly, it is not necessary to delete this overwrite sector because the rewrite automatically deletes the old data within the required memory space.

As with all data processing equipment, where information is stored and energy interruptions can lead to loss of information, hearing aids are also involved Data recording options for the purposes of the present invention, the risk that in a power supply interruption, for example, as a result of removal of the battery from the hearing aid by the hearing aid wearer, while data recording it can lead to corrupt information in the memory unit. For this reason, it has already been proposed to record the information to be recorded in different areas of the memory unit, ie to perform a multiple recording, and to specially mark the memory areas with the respectively valid information. With respect to the known teaching, for example EP-1 206 163 A1 directed. It is obvious that the information management methods usually used in data processing systems, which also include provisions for the secure writing and reading of information in the event of a power failure, are best suited to prevent corrupted data in the memory unit. In this regard, reference is made to the known information management methods known as RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks), NTFS (Windows NT File System) and FAT (File Allocation Table). These known information management methods can be readily integrated into the computing units present in hearing aids or into the corresponding software.

When recording data, the high power consumption must be taken into account, especially when recording the data in the storage unit 7 in the hearing aid, because due to the limited available energy can quickly lead to a very fast discharge of the batteries in the hearing aid.

A write process usually takes about 4-8 ms and is therefore also referred to as "burst". During the writing process, there is a high load on the battery and thus usually audible artifacts in the hearing aid, as a result of a write operation, a brief voltage dip arises, which leads to an insufficient supply of microphones, amplifiers, etc. To avoid the resulting artifacts, the following strategies are proposed in the context of this invention, it being expressly pointed out that the following measures are not only suitable for recording data in connection with the above statements, but the following statements have a general meaning in describing of a non-volatile memory in portable devices and can therefore be considered as independent inventions:

A first variant is characterized by the fact that for data recording a good time is awaited. For this purpose, the data are first stored in a volatile memory and only then transferred to the non-volatile memory, if the time is favorable. A favorable time is, for example, when the battery is charged only low or when only small signal components must be generated at the output.

A second variant provides that during the writing process, the amplification is increased in advance in such a way that a voltage drop caused by the writing process is compensated, thus no detectable change is noticeable on the output signal of a hearing aid by a writing process.

In a third variant, it is proposed to use a kind of signal processing, by which the audible artifacts resulting from the data recording are suppressed. The sounds produced by a "burst" can be individually determined for each hearing aid already in the development phase and eliminated with the aid of a suitable signal processing program.

Finally, a fourth variant is proposed. This is a limitation on the frequency of writes. It has been found that the audible artifacts are dependent on the repetition rate of the write operations. Therefore, a maximum repetition rate is set to a value at which no audible artifacts are yet to occur. This maximum permissible repetition rate depends in particular on the type of hearing aid, type of battery, battery status and / or the type of memory used.

The access to the memory unit 7 for reading and programming by means of suitable hardware via the specified in the figure transmission device 10, wherein the possibility exists, the stored data in the Memory of a (Personal Digital Assistant) PDA or a mobile phone. In such a device, the transmitted data can either be processed directly or it can be later transferred to a more powerful computer for further processing.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the data, bypassing the memory unit 7 in the hearing aid, are transmitted directly to a powerful external computer in order to carry out a visualization of the data thereon, for example. This is particularly good control options for the acoustician created.

In this context, reference is made to a particularly advantageous embodiment in which a connection to the mentioned external computer via the Internet is provided. The responsible acoustician, who can access the same external computer, analyzes the data and optionally intervenes in the configuration of the hearing aid or he invites the hearing aid wearer to a consultation, in which a configuration change is made to the hearing aid. This novel application of the invention may be referred to as "remote performance monitoring".

The evaluation of some stored in the memory unit 7 data during operation allows the adaptation of the hearing aid, wherein it is provided in a further embodiment that the Hearing aid wearer can gradually get used to the new hearing aid setting. For example, there is the possibility of having the gain in the hearing aid automatically increase after certain operating times, until finally a desired value is reached. An important application of this concerns the group of people who first have to get used to wearing hearing aids. A sudden improved acoustic perception as a result of a hearing aid worn for the first time, which is optimally adapted to an existing hearing loss from the point of view of the acoustician, namely, according to experience, triggers a strong irritation in the hearing aid wearer. If hearing is abruptly improved by wearing a hearing aid for the first time, the hearing aid wearer perceives this as unpleasant or even annoying. A slow "start-up" of hearing aid influence significantly reduces this negative sensation and gives the hearing aid user a higher general acceptance for wearing the hearing aid.

In the published patent application of the international patent application WO 01/26 419 A1 a method for acclimation of a hearing aid wearer to his hearing aid is described. The known method consists in that the acoustician does not set the desired amplification but first a value reduced in relation to the desired amplification and that the amplification is continuously increased in a predetermined period of time until the desired amplification is achieved. This so-called acclimatization phase is completed when the desired gain - or a desired value of a other parameter - is reached. This results in a gentle acclimation of the hearing aid wearer to the hearing aid. However, the acoustician must be consulted to change the settings made.

It is therefore proposed to further improve the fitting process by involving the hearing aid wearer in the adaptation process. The involvement of the hearing aid wearer is in particular that the habituation process to an interactive process - instead of an automatic and predetermined habituation process, as shown in the WO 01/26 419 is described - will.

According to the invention, it is provided to have the habituation process controlled and initialized by the hearing aid wearer, for example by changing the gain or any other parameter by the hearing aid wearer.

• Das Hörgerät wird durch den Akustiker in einen "Angewöhnungsmodus" versetzt, beispielsweise während einer Dauer von drei Monaten. In diesem Modus wird eine durch den Hörgeräteträger erhöhte Verstärkungseinstellung (Lautstärke) umgehend oder nach dem Aus- und Wiedereinschalten des Hörgerätes zur Standardeinstellung gemacht.
• Im Hörgerät werden bestimmte Aktionen bzw. Interaktionen in einer der vorstehend beschriebenen Art und Weise aufgezeichnet, wobei eine neue Einstellung zur Standardeinstellung wird, sobald eine vorgegebene Anzahl von Aktionen bzw. Interaktionen registriert bzw. aufgezeichnet ist. Damit lassen sich mehrere verschiedene Parameter des Hörgerätes einstellen. Insbesondere können die Verstärkung über die ganze Bandbreite oder die Übertragungsfunktion spezifisch verändert, d.h. angepasst werden.

The most varied interactions by the hearing aid wearer are conceivable during the acclimation phase. Of these interactions, two representative are described below:

• The hearing aid is put into a "habituation mode" by the acoustician, for example for a period of three months. In this mode, a gain setting (volume) increased by the hearing aid wearer is promptly or after switching the hearing aid off and on again to the default setting.
• In the hearing aid, certain actions or interactions are recorded in one of the ways described above, with a new setting becoming the default once a predetermined number of actions have been recorded. This allows you to set several different parameters of the hearing aid. In particular, the gain over the entire bandwidth or the transfer function can be changed specifically, ie adapted.

• Aus den aufgezeichneten Informationen kann der Akustiker auf die vorzunehmenden optimalen Verstärkungseinstellungen für alle verfügbaren Hörprogramme schliessen. Entspricht es beispielsweise der Gewohnheit des Hörgerätträgers, sich viel in seinem Fahrzeug aufzuhalten, wird das entsprechende Hörprogramm als Hauptprogramm abgespeichert. Entsprechend wird die Verstärkung reduziert.
• Aus den aufgezeichneten Informationen kann der Akustiker die Funktionen des Klassifizierers, welcher die momentane akustische Umgebungssituation bestimmt, einstellen. Hierzu gehören insbesondere die Sensitivität und die Zeitverzögerung, wobei die letztere die Verzögerung bei einem Wechsel von einem Hörprogramm zu einem anderen darstellt.
• Aufgrund der aufgezeichneten Informationen kann der Akustiker eine Feinabstimmung für die einzelnen akustischen Situationen bzw. Hörprogramme vornehmen. Hierzu gehören insbesondere Einstellungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Geräusch- und Präsentationsniveau, mit anderen Worten können hiermit die für den Hörgerätträger hörbaren Geräusche beeinflusst werden, welche einen wichtigen Bestandteil des normalen Hörens bilden.
• Basierend auf den aufgezeichneten Informationen kann der Akustiker die relevanten Hörprogramme für den jeweiligen Hörgerätträger auswählen.

The present invention or the various aspects of the invention for recording data allow a number of other applications. The hearing aids used today have a high degree of complexity, which in particular has the consequence that a high number of parameters and a concomitant high number of different hearing program settings can or must be set, which can not be easily adapted to the hearing habits of a hearing aid wearer , It is therefore proposed according to a further aspect of the present invention that the hearing aid is exposed to the various acoustic situations in an experimental phase and that the generated internally and / or externally generated signals or parameters and information are recorded in accordance with the above statements. As a result, the acoustician can rely on a number of extremely important information, namely information that relates to the actual acoustic environment situation of the hearing aid wearer. In particular, the acoustician has the following options:

• From the recorded information, the acoustician can conclude the optimum gain settings to be made for all available hearing programs. If, for example, it is the habit of the hearing aid wearer to spend a lot of time in his vehicle, the corresponding hearing program is stored as the main program. Accordingly, the gain is reduced.
• From the recorded information, the acoustician can adjust the functions of the classifier which determines the current acoustic environment situation. These include, in particular, the sensitivity and the time delay, the latter representing the delay in a change from one hearing program to another.
• Based on the recorded information, the acoustician can fine-tune the individual acoustic situations or hearing programs. These include, in particular, settings related to the level of noise and presentation, in other words, the sounds audible to the hearing aid wearer which form an important part of normal hearing.
• Based on the recorded information, the acoustician can select the relevant hearing programs for the respective hearing device wearer.

Regardless of the above, a further embodiment of the present invention is that the described information recording in the hearing aid is used to record the "acoustic world" of the future hearing aid wearer, thus it is not intended that the hearing aid in this phase an acoustic signal for prepared the hearing aid. It is only necessary to register the acoustic situations that the future hearing aid wearer finds in his environment. Such a preliminary clarification may, for example, facilitate the choice of the type of hearing aid.

Claims (28)

1. Method of logging data in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit which is at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device, wherein the point in time for starting the data logging is triggered or changed either manually or event-driven, characterised in that both a point in time of the logging and/or a logging frequency as well as the data to be logged, such as parameters and/or settings of the hearing device, are freely adjusted or programmed, and that one or several of the following adjustment possibilities are performed based on the logged data:

   - upon making a new adjustment at the hearing device, the desired adjustment is executed over a specifiable time period, wherein corrections input by the hearing device user have an influence on the adjustment process;

   - the available hearing programs or parameters or operating settings are put in order;

   - an employed classifier undergoes a fine tuning, wherein particularly sensitivity and time delay are adjusted;

   - available hearing programs or parameters or operating settings are selected or activated.
2. Method of claim 1, characterised in that the data is processed before the logging and that only processed data is logged.
3. Method of one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the data is arranged in one or several of the following categories:

   - hardware data, including sound variation data, system behaviour data and hearing device user interaction data;

   - customer-specific data;

   - data related to the fitting history of a hearing device;

   - operating data or current adjustments or time signals;

   - statistical data.
4. Method of one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that identical or similar adjustments performed once or several times in predetermined acoustic situations are used as new standard settings.
5. Method of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the data is logged in a memory unit (7) which is located in the hearing device, wherein a logging of data is only carried out if one or several of the following conditions are met:

   - a battery unit supplying energy to the hearing device has an output voltage that lies above a specifiable value;

   - there is no surround sound to be processed by the hearing device;

   - a mean level of surround noise is higher than a specifiable level;

   - the amount of data to be logged is limited to a specifiable value, for instance to 128 bytes.
6. Method of one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the data is logged in a memory unit (7) which is located in the hearing device, wherein a reduction of a supply voltage due to the logging process is compensated.
7. Method of one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that interference signals occurring due to the logging process are eliminated with the help of a filter.
8. Method of one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the logging of data is carried out in data packets, wherein a repetition rate for the logging of the data packets does not exceed a specifiable repetition rate.
9. Method of claim 8, characterised in that the specifiable repetition rate corresponds to a maximum value at which hearable artifacts only just do not yet occur due to the logging process.
10. Method of claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the data is logged in at least one of two sectors in the memory unit (7).
11. Method of claim 10, characterised in that the data is logged in at least one of three sectors, wherein in a first sector data is logged which is not deleted and not appended, data logged in a second sector is not deleted, however new data is appended, and wherein data logged in a third sector is deleted.
12. Method of claim 10, characterised in that the data is logged in at least one of three sectors, wherein in a first sector data is logged which is not deleted and not appended, data logged in a second sector is stored in a circular buffer in which new data is stored at the location of the oldest data present in the circular buffer, and wherein data logged in a third sector is deleted.
13. Method of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a date and/or time unit is provided in the hearing device, which date and/or time unit is synchronised with an external synchronisation unit.
14. Method of claim 13, characterised in that one or a combination of the following devices is used as synchronisation unit:

    - remote control;

    - computer;

    - mobile telephone;

    - PDA;

    - atomic clock.
15. Method of claim 13 or 14, characterised in that an acoustic signal and/or speech synthesized information is generated in the hearing device based on set time or date information.
16. Hearing device, comprising

    - a signal processing unit (3),

    - a control unit (6),

    - a memory unit (7),

    - at least one microphone (1),

    - a loudspeaker unit (5),

    wherein the at least one microphone (1) and the loudspeaker unit (5) are operationally connected to the signal processing unit (3), which in turn is operationally connected to the memory unit (7) via the control unit (6), and wherein the point in time for starting the data logging can be triggered or changed either manually or event-driven, characterised in that both a point in time for the logging and/or a logging frequency as well as the data to be logged are freely adjustable or programmable, and that one or several of the following adjustment possibilities can be performed based on the logged data:

    - upon making a new adjustment at the hearing device, the desired adjustment can be executed over a specifiable time period, wherein corrections input by the hearing device user have an influence on the adjustment process;

    - the available hearing programs or parameters or operating settings can be put in order;

    - an employed classifier can undergo a fine tuning, wherein particularly sensitivity and time delay are adjustable;

    - available hearing programs or parameters or operating settings can be selected or activated.
17. Hearing device of claim 16, characterised in that the data can be stored in the memory unit (7).
18. Hearing device of claim 16, characterised in that the data can be transferred to and stored in an external storage unit, wherein the external storage unit can be coupled to the hearing device in particular via the internet.
19. Hearing device of claim 16, characterised in that the memory unit (7) is partitioned into at least two sectors.
20. Hearing device of claim 19, characterised in that the memory unit (7) is partitioned into three sectors, wherein in a first sector data to be logged can be stored which cannot be changed, data to be logged in a second sector cannot be deleted, however new data can be appended, and wherein data to be logged in a third sector can be deleted and new data can be stored.
21. Hearing device of claim 19, characterised in that the memory unit (7) is partitioned into three sectors, wherein in a first sector data can be stored which cannot be changed, data to be logged in a second sector can be stored in a circular buffer in which new data can be stored at the location of the oldest data present in the circular buffer, and wherein data to be logged in a third sector can be deleted and new data can be stored.
22. Hearing device of one of claims 16 to 21, characterised in that the data can be arranged in one or several of the following categories:

    - hardware data, including sound variation data, system behaviour data and hearing device user interaction data;

    - customer-specific data;

    - data related to the fitting history of a hearing device;

    - operating data or current adjustments or time signals;

    - statistical data.
23. Hearing device of one of the claims 16 to 21, characterised in that a date and/or time unit is provided in the hearing device, which date and/or time unit can be synchronised with an external synchronisation unit.
24. Hearing device of claim 23, characterised in that the synchronisation unit is one or a combination of the following devices:

    - remote control;

    - computer;

    - mobile telephone;

    - PDA;

    - atomic clock.
25. Hearing device of claim 23 or 24, characterised in that an acoustic signal and/or speech synthesized information can be generated in the hearing device based on set time or date information.
26. Hearing device of one of the claims 23 to 25, characterised in that specifiable actions can be generated based on one or several of the following factors:

    - specifiable time of day;

    - specifiable date;

    - working day or specifiable working day;

    - holiday.
27. Binaural hearing device with at least two hearing device parts, at least one of the at least two hearing device parts being realised according to one of the claims 16 to 26.
28. Hearing device of claim 27, characterised in that a quality of a connection between the at least two hearing device parts can be monitored and logged.

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