EP2254354A1 - Method for acclimatising a programmable hearing aid and corresponding hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves considering speed of the automatic acclimation changes of the parameter, which makes carrier of a hearing device. The method is terminated, if the parameter of a goal value is achieved or if length of time given in advance is elapsed. An independent claim is also included for a hearing device for time-dependent automatic acclimation of parameter.

Description

The invention relates to a method specified in claim 1 and a hearing device described in claim 8 for time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predetermined target value.

Known hearing devices have at least one microphone or a telecoil for receiving an acoustic or electromagnetic input signal and converting the input signal into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is processed and amplified in response to the signal frequency before being applied to an output transducer for outputting an output signal. As output transducer usually find electrical-acoustic transducers (listeners) use, but there are also output transducer known that deliver an output signal in the form of electrical pulses for stimulation of nerves or are directly connected to ossicles and make them vibrate.

Hearing devices should work as appropriate to the situation. Algorithms to improve the sound impression, the speech intelligibility or to ensure a system behavior (eg feedback compensator) should only be automatically activated and effective with a certain strength, as the situation requires, since the algorithms can also show disadvantageous behavior. For example, a noise reduction algorithm, a directional microphone or a feedback compensator should not be activated when the hearing aid wearer is sitting in a concert. In this case, a noise reduction algorithm would attack the payload and generate artifacts. A directional microphone would undesirably alter the spatial sound impression. A feedback compensator would produce unwanted artifacts.

There are also situations in which these algorithms are activated, but should only have a weak effect. Whenever which system parameter settings are to take effect so that the hearing aid finds as much acceptance as possible, ultimately only the hearing aid wearer can decide.

In a programmable hearing device, the user has a large number of different parameter sets, so-called listening programs. Parameters to be set for a parameter set are, for example, gain, number of active microphones, threshold value, control time of a compression circuit, maximum output level and frequency response. Each of these sets of parameters represents the meaningful coordinated adjustment of all signal processing parameters for a specific acoustic hearing or environmental situation, for example an environment situation "speech at rest", ie without disturbing background noise, or an environment situation "speech in noise" with low-frequency noise.

The adaptation of a hearing device usually takes place in that the hearing device acoustician measures the audiometric characteristics of the hearing (audiogram) for the hearing impaired person. Audiometric characteristics, for example, the hearing loss, the discomfort threshold and the volume scaling are taken into account. Subsequently, the individual parameter sets are determined for different listening situations. In this first fitting process (first fit), the subjective sound perception and positive sound assessment by the hearing aid wearer is in the foreground. The aim of the first fits is that the wearer of the hearing device feels the sound as pleasant. This often comes at the expense of speech understanding, which is therefore gradually improved in the subsequent period by appropriate adjustment of the operating parameters. This is done either in further fitting sessions with the acoustician or by an automatic fitting process in the hearing.

The patent DE 195 42 961 describes a circuit for operating a hearing aid, in which the operating parameter setting of the respectively set by the acoustician initial situation and the target situation is set in a memory array. By means of a control unit, an automatic adjustment of the operating parameters of the initial situation to the operating parameters of the target situation is carried out over a determinable time interval. This process is called acclimation. Appropriately, the adjustment of the parameters takes place in constant order of magnitude steps and time intervals. If the target state is adjusted too quickly, the wearer of the hearing device can choose a longer time interval and set it independently. A disadvantage of this method is that the hearing aid wearer can affect only the temporal component of the adjustment process independently and all other parameters can only be changed by the acoustician during further fitting sessions.

In Scripture EP 1 453 357 A2 describes a hearing device and a method for simplifying the individual adaptation of a hearing device to a hearing device wearer. The wearer of the hearing device hereby has the option of manually setting selected operating parameters, such as the amplification, on the hearing device when it is in a specific, characteristic situation for it. At the same time an adjustment process is triggered in the hearing by this hearing situation is measured physically. The measured values obtained and the manually selected operating parameter value are used to determine a new characteristic field. In this characteristic field, a large number of environmental situations are linked to corresponding values of the relevant operating parameter value. This makes it possible to automatically set a corresponding value of the relevant operating parameter value in a new hearing situation. A disadvantage of this learning-based method is that the preferred settings are often of may differ from the optimal speech intelligibility. The hearing aid learns to sound good, but with little added benefit in terms of the goal of optimal speech intelligibility. The finely tuned fine adjustments of the acoustician can be destroyed and lead to a poor final result.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide an improved method for the time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predefinable target value.

The idea of the invention is that the acoustician specifies the start and destination parameter set for the individual hearing situations. However, the gradual adaptation progress during the adjustment phase is performed taking into account the manual settings of the hearing aid wearer.

For example, if for a defined listening environment the parameter Loudness has a target gain that is 6 dB above the start gain, an additional volume increase manually made by the hearing aid wearer would shorten the time intervals of the gradual increase of the volume parameter the target value of this parameter would be reached faster. On the other hand, if the user tried to make the hearing device quieter, this led to an extension of the fitting interval and a reduction of the target value for the loudness parameter.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with the method for the time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predetermined target value of independent claim 1 and the hearing device for the time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of the hearing device to a predetermined target value of the independent claim 8 solved.

The invention claims a method for the time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device, for example the volume, to a predefinable target value. In this case, the speed of the automatic acclimatization is influenced by parameter changes that a wearer of the hearing device makes himself. Advantageously, this makes it possible to respond to the individual habituation phase and requirements of the wearer of the hearing device and ultimately to set an optimal parameter value.

Preferably, the method can be terminated when the target value is reached by the parameter or when a predefinable period of time has elapsed. This ensures that the initially set target value can be achieved if the wearer of the hearing device makes no parameter changes of his own accord. In addition, it can be ensured that the predetermined time period for the acclimatization of the hearing device is not exceeded.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the parameter can be changed by a first value at predeterminable times. By means of the first value, for example, a standard change of the parameter can be regulated at predeterminable times, when the wearer of the hearing device does not make any changes to the parameter. If, on the other hand, the wearer of the hearing device makes at least one change to the parameter, at least one second value is determined therefrom and the parameter is changed by at least this second value. It is also possible to switch off the standard change of the parameter at the predefinable times by selecting the first value equal to zero. Thus, the acclimatization progress alone is controlled via the second value by the changes the wearer makes to the parameter.

In a particular embodiment, the times are evenly distributed over the predeterminable period. This allows a uniform Accklimatisierungsfortschritt set.

Advantageously, the first value can be changed as a function of the predefinable times or can be the same at each of the predefinable times. Thus, in the event that the wearer of the hearing device does not make any changes, an acclimatization plan can be implemented with adaptation steps distributed uniformly over the adaptation period. The adaptation of the parameter then takes place at the given times by the first value.

In a development of the method, the acclimation for different frequencies or frequency bands can be performed. Thus, for the wearer of the hearing device, an individual amount of frequencies or a plurality of frequency bands to which or in which acclimatization is carried out can advantageously be determined.

In a particular embodiment, the hearing situation can be taken into account in acclimatization. This optimally sets the hearing device for definable listening situations.

The invention also claims a hearing device for the time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of the hearing device to a predefinable target value. The hearing device comprises an adaptation unit, by means of which the speed of the automatic acclimatization can be adapted as a function of the changes made by a wearer of the hearing device.

In a particular embodiment, the hearing device can be a memory device for storing a predefinable target value, a predefinable time duration and predeterminable times include. Thus, the target value of the parameter, as well as the duration of the acclimatization and the times at which a change of the parameter by the first value takes place, can be set individually.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the hearing device may comprise a data input device which is connected to the memory device. This allows input of data for individual acclimatization control.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the hearing device may comprise an adjustment device for changing the parameter by the wearer of the hearing device. This makes it possible that the wearer of the hearing device makes its own changes to the parameter, which are taken into account in the acclimatization period.

In a particular embodiment, the hearing device may be a hearing aid.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following explanations to several embodiments with reference to schematic drawings.

Figur 1:

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur zeitabhän- gigen automatischen Akklimatisierung,

Figur 2:

ein Blockschaltbild einer Hörvorrichtung zur zeit- abhängigen automatischen Akklimatisierung und

Figur 3:

ein Diagramm der Änderung des Parameters in einem Akklimatisierungszeitraum.

Show it:

FIG. 1:

a flowchart of a method for time-dependent automatic acclimatization,

FIG. 2:

a block diagram of a hearing device for time-dependent automatic acclimatization and

FIG. 3:

a diagram of the change of the parameter in an acclimatization period.

In FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method according to the invention for time-dependent automatic acclimation at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predetermined target value. In a data input device 1, a predeterminable target value is detected in step 101, a predefinable time duration is determined in step 102 and at least one predefinable time in step 103. In step 104, the data acquired in the data input device 1 is stored in the memory device 2. In step 105, a count value n is initialized to 1. In step 106, the currently observed time interval [time n; Time n + 1] (hereinafter abbreviated as [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ]). In step 107, in the adaptation unit 3 for the currently considered time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ] is the change of the parameter by the first value. Subsequently, in step 108 in the adapter unit 3, a data input is checked by the setting device 4. If there is a data input from the setting device 4, then in step 109, the parameter is changed by a further value. In step 110, it is checked whether the currently considered time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ] is still valid. If this is the case, a return to step 108 takes place. If the currently considered time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ] is no longer valid, the count value n is incremented by 1 in step 111 and the process continues with step 106. If there is no more time interval, the process is terminated. This time-dependent automatic acclimation method can be performed for different frequency bands.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a hearing device with its essential components for time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predetermined target value. Since the device according to the invention is preferably used in hearing aids, the following embodiment is based on such a hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 5 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 6 are incorporated for receiving the sound from the environment. A signal processing unit 7, which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 5, processes the microphone signals and amplifies she. The output signal of the signal processing unit 7 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or listener 8, 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 7 is effected by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 5 battery 9. The data input device 1 is connected to the memory unit 2 for transmitting the data entered in the data input device 1. The connection is preferably realized wirelessly via a radio interface. The adaptation unit 3 likewise accesses the data stored in the storage device 2 via a data interface. About an adjustment 4, the wearer of the hearing can make their own settings. The adjusting device 4 is connected to the storage unit 2. The settings made are also stored in the memory unit 2. The adaptation unit 3 is connected to the signal processing unit 7 and reports the changes to be made to the parameter in the signal processing unit 7, such as loudness gains.

FIG. 3 shows a sketch to change the parameter in the acclimatization period. The illustrated graph shows the time course on the x-axis 10 and the change progress of the parameter on the y-axis 11. The curve 12 indicates the course of change of the parameter in the fitting period without settings of the wearer of the hearing device. At the beginning of each new time interval, the parameter is changed by a first value. For example, at the beginning of the first time interval [ZP ₁ ; ZP ₂ ] an increase of the parameter by the value 13. Now takes the wearer of the hearing, for example, in the time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ] at the illustrated time t _x additionally an adjustment to the parameter, this leads to an immediate change of the parameter by a calculated by the fitting unit 3 second value 14. The curve 15 gives the course of change of the parameter due the settings by the wearer of the hearing device in the time interval [ZP _n ; 2P _{n + 1} ] again. Upon entering the next time interval [ZP _{n + 1} ; 2P _{n + 2} ] the parameter is increased again by the first value 13. If the wearer of the hearing device takes, for example, in the time interval [ZP _m ; ZP _{m + 1} ] at the two times t _y and t _z changes in the parameter before, the adjustment unit 3 calculates after setting at time t _y another second value 16 for the change of the parameter and after the setting at time t _z a another second value 17 for the change of the parameter. The curve 18 shows the course of the change of the parameter due to the settings by the wearer of the hearing device in the time interval [ZP _m ; ZP _{m + 1} ] again. When entering the next time interval [ZP _{m + 1} ; ZP _{m + 2} ] the parameter is again increased by the first value 13.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Data entry device

2

storage device

3

matching unit

4

adjustment

5

hearing aid housing

6

microphones

7

Signal processing unit

8th

Speaker or listener

9

battery

10

Time course (x-axis)

11

Change progress parameter (y-axis)

12

Curve with change course of the parameter without settings by wearer of the hearing device

13

Value change first value

14

Value change second value in the time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ] due to adjustment at time t _x

15

Curve with changes in the parameter due to settings by the wearer of the hearing device in the time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ]

16

Value change of a further second value in the time interval [ZP _m ; ZP _{m + 1} ] due to adjustment at the time t _y

17

Value change of a further second value in the time interval [ZP _m ; ZP _{m + 1} ] due to adjustment at the time t _z

18

Curve with variation of the parameter due to the settings by wearer of the hearing device in the time interval [ZP _m ; ZP _{m + 1} ]

101

Capture target value

102

Capture time duration

103

Capture times

104

Transmission collected data to storage device

105

Set count n equal to 1

106

Selection time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ]

107

Change parameter by first value

108

Check data input of setting device

109

Change parameters by another second value

110

Check validity of the current time interval [ZP _n ; ZP _{n + 1} ]

111

Increase count n by 1

Claims (12)

Method for time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of a hearing device to a predefinable target value,
characterized,
that the speed of automatic acclimatization changes in the parameter that will be made by a wearer of the hearing device are considered. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the method is terminated when the target value is reached by the parameter or when a predefined period of time has elapsed. Method according to claim 1 or 2
characterized by : Changing the parameter by a first value (13) at predeterminable times and - Changing the parameter by at least a second value (14, 16, 17), which is determined in each case from a change made by the wearer of the hearing device of the parameter. Method according to claim 3,
characterized,
that the predeterminable times are equidistant. Method according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized,
that the first value is changed in a time-dependent manner or is the same at all times. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the acclimation is performed for different frequency bands. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that acclimatization takes into account the listening situation. Hearing device for time-dependent automatic acclimation of at least one parameter of the hearing device to a predefinable target value,
characterized by : a fitting unit (3) by which the speed of the automatic acclimatization is adaptable in dependence on the changes made by a wearer of the hearing device. Hearing device according to claim 8,
characterized,
in that the hearing device comprises a memory device (2) for storing a predefinable target value, a predefinable time duration and predefinable time points. Hearing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized,
in that a data input device (1) is connected to the memory device (2). Hearing apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the hearing device comprises an adjusting device (4) for changing the parameter by the wearer of the hearing device. Hearing apparatus according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized
that the hearing device is a hearing aid.

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