EP1976334A2 - Method for adapting a hearing device with normalisation of processing values - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves adjusting individual processing values e.g. filter value, for channels (k1-k16) of a processing unit i.e. 16-channel filter bank, based on respective individual basic set values for a hearing device carrier. Each of the individual processing values is normalized based on the respective associated basic set values, and the processing values at a hearing aid carrier are adapted relative to the normalized processing values. The basic set values and the relative adaptation of the processing values for each of the channels are optically represented.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of adapting a hearing aid having a multi-channel processing unit to a hearing aid wearer by setting each individual processing value for each channel of the processing unit to a respective default value that is individual to the hearing aid wearer.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) and in-the-ear hearing aids (ITO), e.g. also Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (CIC), provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in FIG. 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 2 for receiving the sound from the environment are installed. A signal processing unit 3, also in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit 3 is carried out by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

The sound of a hearing device or hearing system is essentially characterized by the frequency-dependent amplification. In the case of the hearing aid presetting, this is realized in any number of channels on the basis of calculated target gain curves by different levels of attenuation of individual channels. In addition, the setting of these channels takes into account the individual electroacoustics. In this case, for example, resonances of a hearing system are compensated. The result of the basic setting is thus a pre-calculated frequency response of the hearing system, which is composed of different settings of the channel filter bank and the individual electroacoustics.

However, the default setting is usually just a starting point for hearing aid fitting, and subsequently the adaptive audiologist is required to shape the frequency response based on his client's needs. For this he has access to the filter bank and can adjust the attenuation of the individual channels.

Modern hearing systems have multiple channels, so that the implementation of user or customer requests on a large filter bank does not always seem easy. To demonstrate this, is in FIG. 2 a typical result of a channel damping after the default setting for a 16-channel device is shown. The figure shows an equalizer setting over 16 channels, which are arranged side by side with increasing frequency. The set value for each channel k1, k2, ..., k16 is optically symbolized by an actuating element b1, b2,..., b16 as in the case of an equalizer. The position of each actuating element b1, b2,..., B16 thus represents the set filter or damping value for the respective channel k1, k2,..., K16. In the case that the configuration is displayed only visually, for example on a computer screen, the rectangles b1, b2,..., B16 do not represent physical actuators but, for example, only graphical symbols that can be drawn with a computer mouse or only the represent each set value of the channel.

In this in FIG. 2 However, it is relatively confusing to realize a customer request, such as for example more amplification in the high frequencies. In addition, after a change in the basic setting, it is hardly possible to return to it safely.

So far, this problem is solved by so-called "wizards" who have suggestions for a specific customer problem and apply it on request. However, even with this help, there is no way to easily visualize the size of the changes. Alternatively, match modules provide the ability to display the set levels in each channel, but this does not support further intuitive customization.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the fine adjustment of hearing aids by intuitively acting aids.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for adapting a hearing device that has a multi-channel processing unit to a hearing aid wearer by setting an individual processing value for each channel of the processing unit to a respective basic adjustment value that is individual for the hearing aid wearer each of the processing values to the respective default setting value and further adjusting the processing values to the hearing aid wearer relative to the normalized processing values.

Advantageously, it is thus possible to perform a normalization of the setting values after a basic setting, so that they lie, for example, in a graphic representation on a straight line. Based on this, further adjustments are easy and intuitive.

Preferably, the processing unit is a filter bank and the processing values are filter values. This makes it easy to intuitively set the attenuation values of a filter bank. However, the advantage according to the invention can also be used, for example, for an amplifier unit as a processing unit.

It is particularly advantageous if the default values and the relative adjustments of the processing values for each channel are displayed optically. Visual representations help users to intuitively find suitable settings.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, for each channel, a maximum value for the further adjustment is displayed visually together with the current setting values, which can not be exceeded in the case of the relative adaptation. Thus, not only the dynamic range of the processing unit in the respective channel can be easily detected, but also readily recognized that under certain circumstances, other channels for the implementation of the desired processing or filtering can / should be influenced.

Relative fitting can be done using a drop-down menu that selects one of several predetermined relative fitting combinations, which are relative fitting values for all channels. Thus, for certain listening situations are relatively simple individual relative settings or fine adjustments possible. For example, a relative increase in the fitting values may occur in only those channels that represent a mid-range of acoustically observable frequencies. In this way, z. B. voice signals over other sounds amplified play.

FIG 1

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Hörgeräts gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 2

eine typische Konfiguration einer 16-Kanal-Filterbank nach einer Grundeinstellung gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 3

eine normalisierte Darstellung der Einstellwerte von FIG 2 gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

FIG 4

eine Einstellwertekombination (Shape) für das Anheben der Höhen relativ zu der Grundeinstellung in normalisierter Darstellung;

FIG 5

eine Einstellwertekombination zum Anheben der Mitten in normalisierter Darstellung und

FIG 6

eine Einstellwertekombination zum Absenken der Tiefen in normalisierter Darstellung.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

the basic structure of a hearing aid according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

a typical configuration of a 16-channel filter bank according to a basic setting according to the prior art;

FIG. 3

a normalized representation of the setting values of FIG. 2 according to the present invention;

FIG. 4

a set value combination (Shape) for raising the heights relative to the default setting in normalized representation;

FIG. 5

a setpoint combination for raising the centers in normalized representation and

FIG. 6

a setpoint combination for lowering the depths in normalized representation.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

For better intuitive usability of a filter bank configuration or another setting of a multi-channel system, the previous absolute representation of the channel level is according to the invention accordingly FIG. 2 in a relative representation according to FIG. 3 transformed. In this case, the set value of each channel k1 to k16 to the value of the respective default setting, in this case the in FIG. 2 displayed value, normalized. Thus, the actuators b1 to b16 automatically on a baseline G, z. B. a 0-line aligned. Such normalization can take place at arbitrary times.

The graphic of FIG. 3 , which represents the actuators b1 to b16 and the corresponding channel adjustment values of the filter bank, thus becomes a basis for a relative representation with respect to a basic setting or a "FirstFit". However, the user can also carry out a corresponding basic setting himself at any later time and use it for normalization.

Following the basic setting of the filter bank or the multi-channel system and a subsequent normalization, a relative change in the filter or setting values can now be made for further adaptation (fine adjustment). This provides an intuitive way to make changes to the current device configuration. It can namely be easily recognized which or which channels have been changed from the basic setting. Also, the quantity of change can be easily detected optically.

For additional orientation, the upper limit L, z. As the maximum gain, in the graph of FIG. 3 to be displayed. This is particularly helpful for recognizing which dynamic range is available in the respective channel.

After a fine adjustment, ie relative to a basic setting, results in, for example, in FIG. 4 illustrated set value combination for the individual channels k1 to k16. In this example, the seven highest frequency channels were raised slightly. In particular, the highest frequencies thereof are raised more than the lower of the high frequencies, so that results in an approximately linear increase to the highest frequencies out. The actuating elements b1 to b16 thus represent a specific adaptation or setting value combination, which is graphically reflected in a so-called "shape". The "shape" of FIG. 4 serves to lift the heights. For example, different "shapes" can be determined for different listening situations. In FIG. 5 For this purpose, another concrete example is given, which reproduces a "shape" for lifting the centers.

Similarly, in FIG. 6 an example in which the depths are lowered. This is also easy to recognize from the normalized representation. Thus, in the example chosen, the lowest frequency channels are attenuated from the default setting. The attenuation increases with decreasing frequency.

Optionally, for example, via a drop-down menu ready-made "shapes", as in the examples of the FIGS. 4 to 6 are presented. The user then has the opportunity to choose an individual adaptation. Thus, in a listening situation with speech, the "shape" of FIG. 5 be chosen so that it comes to a "raising of language". Furthermore, for example, "shapes" for the listening situations "classical music", "disco" etc. are possible to come from the default setting via the drop-down menu to the desired setting. In addition, other "shapes" can be intuitively created by the user himself. In particular, the user has the opportunity to normalize the display of an equalizer to any point, so that it allows an intuitive handling of a large filter bank and he can implement his wishes easily and intuitively. However, he always has the option of intuitively returning to the basic setting.

Claims (6)

A method for adapting a hearing aid having a multi-channel processing unit to a hearing aid wearer Setting each individual processing value for each channel (k1 to k16) of the processing unit to a respective basic setting value that is individual to the hearing aid wearer,
marked by - Normalize each of the processing values to the corresponding basic setting value and further adjusting the processing values to the hearing aid wearer relative to the normalized processing values. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a filter bank and the processing values are filter values. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the default values and the relative adjustments of the processing values for each channel (k1 to k16) are displayed optically. Method according to Claim 3, in which, for each channel (k1 to k16), a maximum value (L) for the further adaptation is optically displayed, which can not be exceeded in the relative adaptation. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relative matching takes place with the aid of a drop-down menu, with which one of a plurality of predetermined relative matching value combinations, which represent relative adjustment values for all channels (k1 to k16), can be selected. The method of claim 5, wherein a relative increase in the fitting values occurs in only those channels representing a mid-range of audible frequencies.

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