JP2003304599A - Adjustment method for hearing aid, and hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjustment method for a hearing aid capable of obtaining optimum amplification factor adjustment in response to a sound pressure level of an internal sound in an external auditory meatus produced by a voice of a wearing person so as to secondarily adjust the amplification factor in addition to primary adjustment of the amplification factor depending on a sound pressure level of an external sound and to provide the hearing aid. <P>SOLUTION: In the adjustment method for the hearing aid for adjusting the amplification factor in response to a received sound pressure level in the case of amplifying sound and transmitting the amplified sound, the amplification factor is primarily adjusted with respect to a sound pressure level of an external sound received from the outside of an ear and the amplification factor is secondarily adjusted on the basis of a sound pressure level of an internal sound received from an internal sound input section placed in an external auditory meatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of adjusting an in-ear type hearing aid and an in-ear type hearing aid, and more particularly, to separating and separating the sound levels of the person wearing the hearing aid. The present invention relates to a hearing aid adjustment method for recognizing and increasing or decreasing gain and output of a hearing aid, and a hearing aid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, the structure of a hearing aid is such that a microphone 10X for picking up sound and converting it into an audio signal, an amplifier 20X for amplifying an audio signal as an electric signal, and an amplification degree of this amplifier 20X are adjusted. And an adjustment device 40X for setting an upper limit of voice output, an earphone 30X for receiving a voice signal and outputting a voice, a battery as a power source, and the like.

This hearing aid is changing from an analog type hearing aid to a digital type hearing aid. The electric signal is A / D converted and digitally processed, and the signal after digital processing is D / A converted to an electric signal. It's fixed.

This digital type hearing aid has a non-linear function for changing the sound magnification, an auto volume function for automatically adjusting the sound volume, and a multi-channel function for separately adjusting the high and low sounds. To make a wide range of sounds audible, to automatically output the optimum sound volume according to the detected sound volume, and to adjust the sound pressure level to the most audible level for each pitch. You can

The gain of this hearing aid is generally controlled automatically in an acoustic environment by automatic gain control (A
It is often adjusted by GC (Automatic Gain Control).

In this automatic gain control, the sound pressure of the microphone input of the amplification circuit of the hearing aid is regulated, and when a large sound exceeding a certain level is input, the hearing aid automatically reduces the amplification rate of the sound, that is, It is operated so as to reduce the gain.
As a result, the sound is not distorted and a large amount of sound is prevented from being emitted, and the sound is appropriately amplified so that a normal conversation can be easily heard, and the sound is provided to the deaf person's stool.

That is, in this automatic gain control, the level is recognized and the gain is adjusted at all levels of the sound (including social sounds) that reaches the ear of the hearing aid microphone, including its own voice. .

Further, the gain of the hearing aid is reduced according to the input sound of the hearing aid including self-voice and daily life sound, the gain is decreased at a large level exceeding the set reference level, and when the time constant is exceeded, the original gain is restored. It is supposed to be returned.

That is, to protect the ears, an output limit is set so that too loud a sound is cut off so that too loud a sound is produced. However, since a strong energy portion of a sound is removed, a loud sound is generated. There are a peak clip method that causes distortion and an AGCi and AGCo method that does not cause distortion.

The important task of the hearing aid is to make it easy for the wearer to hear the sound, and it is necessary to adjust the characteristics of the hearing aid according to the degree of hearing loss and the cause of hearing loss of the person with hearing loss. The adjustment of the characteristics of this hearing aid is called fitting, and it is performed by some fitting methods.

Normally, in order to adjust to the ears of each person, adjustment is made using a device for measuring the characteristics of a hearing aid based on an audiogram such as a pure tone audiogram obtained by a hearing test of a hearing-impaired person. After putting on the hearing aid, I have made further adjustments.

In this adjustment, the gain is adjusted on the basis of a comfort level (MCL: comfort value) which is a comfortable sound level which is an index of easiness of hearing, and a discomfort level which is a sound pressure level which is too noisy to endure. The output limit is determined based on (UCL: discomfort value).

[0013]

On the other hand, there are three types of hearing aids, ear-shaped, ear-hooked, and box-shaped (pocket-shaped), depending on the mounting position. As a special type, there is a bone conduction hearing aid. And in the ear canal shape, the hearing aid body,
As shown in FIG. 5, the sound is input to the ear canal, and the sound input by the microphone outside the ear is amplified and adjusted and output to the ear canal.

The acoustic characteristics in the external auditory meatus generally show an energy distribution having a resonance peak at 2-3 kHz when the external auditory meatus is not blocked by a hearing aid. This peak disappears when the ear canal is closed with a hearing aid or the like. On the other hand, the voice of the wearer of the hearing aid is transmitted by air from the lips to reach the external input part of the hearing aid and is heard by the cochlea of the inner ear due to bone conduction, but in addition to the sound pressure on the eardrum surface caused by vibration around the external auditory meatus. Listening to the sound.

When the ear canal of the hearing aid is blocked, the self-voice inside the ear canal resonates in the frequency band near 500 Hz, has a peak, and becomes smaller in the high frequency band. Since the peak value of voice energy in this low frequency band is large enough to exceed the uncomfortable value of the wearer, it is said to be a self-emphasis sound, and a hearing aid that blocks the ear canal often causes difficulty in wearing. Problem.

This self-voiced enhanced sound can be separated from the externally input sound by separating the sound input by the internal microphone installed in the external auditory meatus by the filter circuit centered at 500 Hz.

When a person exchanges information by using voice, the voice level is an important element, and when the emotion is overwhelmed and the sound pressure level of surrounding sounds is high, the voice level is automatically changed. The sound pressure level of the voice becomes large, and I want the other party's voice to be heard at a high sound pressure level. On the other hand, on the contrary, in a quiet environment or a solemn atmosphere, the sound pressure level of one's own voice becomes small, and the other party's voice wants to be heard at a small sound pressure level.

As described above, the person changes / adjusts the volume of his / her voice depending on the environment of the sound, and the sound pressure level of the other party's voice should follow the sound pressure level of his / her voice. Expectations and hopes.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the fact that there is a significant difference between the frequency distributions of the self-voiced emphasized sound and the external input sound as described above, and the object thereof is the sound pressure level of the external sound. In addition to the primary adjustment of the amplification level according to the, the secondary adjustment of the amplification level according to the sound pressure level of the internal sound in the ear canal generated by the wearer's own voice is optimal even during conversation. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of adjusting a hearing aid and a hearing aid that can obtain an amplification degree adjustment.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hearing aid adjusting method of the present invention for achieving the above object is a hearing aid for adjusting the amplification degree according to an input sound pressure level when amplifying and transmitting a sound. In the adjusting method, the amplification degree is primarily adjusted with respect to the sound pressure level of the external sound input from the outside of the ear, and based on the sound pressure level of the internal sound input from the internal sound input unit arranged in the ear canal. This is a method of secondarily adjusting the amplification degree.

According to this method, by performing the primary adjustment according to the sound pressure level of the external sound, the external sound is transmitted to the wearer's ear at a sound pressure of a preferable level.
By making a secondary adjustment according to the sound pressure level of the internal sound, particularly the sound pressure level of the self-voiced emphasized sound separated from the internal sound, the voice of the conversation partner can be transmitted at the sound pressure level preferable for the conversation. .

Then, in the method of adjusting the hearing aid,
The secondary adjustment is an adjustment to increase or decrease the amplification degree according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound when the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined determination value. That is, when the internal sound becomes louder than the limit, the amplification degree of the external sound is increased or decreased according to the volume of the internal sound.

By adopting this secondary adjustment, when a voice is generated for conversation, it is possible to change the amplification degree according to the volume of this voice.

Further, the primary adjustment is an adjustment for making the output comfortable with respect to the sound pressure level of the external sound. That is, the primary adjustment is an adjustment based on the comfort level so that the external sound can be heard easily.

In the above method for adjusting a hearing aid,
The sound pressure level of the internal sound is measured using the internal sound in the frequency band of 250 to 750 Hz.

That is, the sound amplified by the internal microphone is
The self-voicing emphasized sound component separated from this internal sound is used by separating it by a filter circuit that passes a frequency band of 250 to 750 Hz centered at 0 Hz.

According to this hearing aid adjusting method, not only the amplification degree is uniformly raised and lowered, but also fine secondary adjustment is performed for each frequency band, whereby the adjustment suitable for conversation can be performed. For example, the amplification of only the frequency range used for conversation is changed, conversely the amplification is changed only for the frequency range not used for conversation, or the frequency range used for conversation and the frequency range not used for conversation are changed. You can also make adjustments, such as reversing the increase or decrease in the amplification degree and making changes in relation to each other.

The hearing aid of the present invention for realizing the above-described method for adjusting a hearing aid includes an external sound input section for inputting an external sound outside the ear and an internal sound input section for inputting a sound inside the external auditory canal. An amplification unit that amplifies the input signals from the external sound input unit and the internal sound input unit, and a primary adjustment unit that adjusts the amplification degree in the amplification unit according to the sound pressure level of the external sound,
It is configured to have a secondary adjustment unit that adjusts the amplification degree in the amplification unit according to the sound pressure level of the internal sound.

When the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined judgment value, the secondary regulator increases or decreases the amplification degree of the external input section according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound. The primary regulator is configured to adjust the output to a comfortable level with respect to the sound pressure level of the external sound.

When the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined range, the secondary adjusting section increases or decreases the amplification degree of the external input section according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound. After adjusting and holding the adjusted state for a predetermined time, the original adjusted state is restored.

When returning to the original adjustment state, it is preferable to gradually return it to avoid a rapid change in the amplification degree, that is, a rapid change in the volume output to the wearer's ear.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although an ear-shaped hearing aid is described as an example here, the present invention is not limited to this and the present invention can be applied to a hearing aid of a type that blocks the external auditory meatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, this in-ear type hearing aid 1
Includes an external input unit 10, an amplification unit 20, an output unit 30, a first adjustment unit 40, an internal sound input unit 50, and a second adjustment unit 60.

As shown in a more detailed configuration diagram of FIG. 2, the external sound input section 10 is composed of an external microphone 11, which collects the sound existing outside the ear and converts it into an electric signal, and inputs the internal sound. The part 50 is an earphone 32 that is placed in the ear canal.
Is formed by an internal microphone 51 provided in the vicinity of
The sound in the ear canal is picked up and converted into an electric signal.

The amplification section 20 is composed of a preamplifier 21, an amplifier 22 and an output amplifier 23, which amplifies the electric signal of the external microphone 11 and sends it to the output section 30.

The output unit 30 includes an output unit 31 and an earphone 3.
2, the electric signal amplified by the amplification unit 20 is converted into sound and output into the ear canal.

The first adjusting section 40 comprises an input level detector 41 and a first adjusting section 42, and the external input section 10
The sound pressure level of the external sound input at is detected, and the amplification degree in the amplifier 22 of the amplification unit 20 is adjusted for each frequency band using the adjustment value calculated based on the data previously input to the first adjuster 42. First adjust to.

The second adjusting section 60 is composed of a self-voice separation filter 61 that passes a frequency band of 250 to 750 Hz centered at 500 Hz, a self-voice level detector 62, and a second adjuster 63. The separation filter 61 separates the self-voicing sound component from the internal sound input by the internal microphone 51, the self-voice level detector 62 detects the sound pressure level of the separated self-voicing sound component, and the second adjuster The amplification degree in the amplifier 22 of the amplification section 20 is secondarily adjusted using the set value calculated in 63.

The self-voice separation filter 61 removes a shocking sound that is suddenly generated by the self-voice in the ear canal due to sneezing, coughing, nasal blow, etc., and has a typical frequency characteristic and a gentle duration. The normal speech that it has is passed.

The data setting section 70 is composed of a data setting device such as a personal computer, and sets adjustment data in the first adjuster 42, the output amplifier 23 and the second adjuster 63.
The data setting unit 70 links the hearing test equipment with the HTL (hearing level), MCL (comfort level), and UCL (discomfort level) data of the wearer of the hearing aid 1 as needed, and Data for adjusting the amplification degree is created in accordance with each level of the hearing ability, and is output to the first adjuster 42, the output amplifier 23, and the second adjuster 63.

That is, data for the primary adjustment is set in the first adjuster 42 so that the sound pressure level of the external sound becomes MCL, and the gain for each frequency band is set depending on the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the external sound. To make a primary adjustment.

Further, the output amplifier 23 is set with data for limiting the output so that the output exceeding the discomfort level set for each frequency band is not output, and the output amplifier 23 has the output limiting function.

Then, when the sound pressure level of the self-voicing sound component separated from the internal sound by the filter exceeds the value in the predetermined range, the second adjuster 63 further adjusts the gain adjusted in the primary order and the gain in the secondary order. The data for secondary adjustment for adjustment is set.
This secondary adjustment is a secondary adjustment by increasing the gain according to the sound pressure level so that the other party's voice can be heard easily when the sound pressure level of the self-voicing sound component exceeds a predetermined value. However, when the sound pressure level of the self-voicing sound component becomes equal to or smaller than another predetermined value, the gain is reduced in accordance with this sound pressure level and secondary adjustment is performed so that the voice of the other party also becomes smaller. .

The method of creating the adjustment data of the hearing aid 1 is as follows.
According to the flow illustrated in FIG. 3, it is performed as follows.

First, in step S10, an examination of the hearing-impaired person's ears is performed.

This examination includes general examinations such as an external ear canal examination in step S11, an eardrum examination, and an X-ray examination if necessary, and a pure-tone hearing test for obtaining a hearing level (HTL: minimum audible threshold) in step S12. , Speech sound hearing test, discomfort level test (UCL test), and comfort level test (MCL test).

According to these examinations, the hearing level (HTL), comfort level (MCL), discomfort level (UC)
L) data is obtained.

Next, in step S20, adjustment data is created.

In step S21, the primary adjustment data is created. In the creation of the primary adjustment data, the sound pressure level of the external sound input from the external microphone to the data of the first controller 42 becomes a comfortable level. A gain that provides such an amplification degree is created as primary adjustment data.
That is, the gain data is set so that the sound input from the outside based on the comfort level data of the wearer is at a comfortable level for the hearing-impaired person's ears, that is, it is just easy to hear.

Further, as the setting data of the output amplifier 23, data is created so as to limit the maximum output so that the sound pressure level of the external sound does not exceed the uncomfortable level. That is, the output upper limit gain data is determined on the basis of the uncomfortable sound level of the wearer, that is, the uncomfortable sound pressure level UCL (uncomfortable value) based on the uncomfortable level data of the wearer.

These primary adjustment data are usually created in the input frequency range of 250 Hz to 4 kHz, but when voice is input, the range of 1 to 3 kHz in which the degree of importance and contribution of conversation is high is high. It is played at the center.

When the creation of the primary adjustment data is completed, the secondary adjustment data for the own voice is created in step S22.

In step S22a, a self-voice is generated with the hearing aid 1 being worn by the hearing-impaired person, the self-voice is received by the internal microphone 51, and data of the internal sound including the self-voice is collected. This data collection is performed by having the wearer generate his / her own voice in a state where data communication with the data setting device 70 is possible, and sending the voice data input to the internal microphone 51 to the data setting device 70. .
A self-voice separation filter 61 separates this internal sound into a self-voice emphasized sound component.

Since the sound pressure energy of the self-emphasized sound inside the outer ear is mainly concentrated in the range of 250 to 750 Hz, the self-separation filter 6 for separating the self-emphasized sound component.
1 is configured to pass in the range of 250 to 750 Hz.

In step S22b, the data setting device 7
At 0, the sound pressure level of the self-voicing emphasized sound component is obtained from the signal input from the internal microphone 51, or the signal input from the internal microphone 51 is frequency-analyzed to output the self-voicing sound for each frequency band. The sound pressure level of the component is obtained, and in step S22c, the data setting device 70 creates the secondary adjustment data of the amplification degree from the sound pressure level data of the self-voicing sound component.

Then, the primary adjustment data and the secondary adjustment data are set by setting the hearing aid 1 in the data setting device 70 and making data communication with the data setting device 70 possible. Input data to the first controller 41 and the output amplifier 23, and secondary adjustment data to the second controller 63.

Next, the automatic amplification degree adjusting method for the hearing aid will be described with reference to the flow illustrated in FIG.

When the hearing aid 1 attached is turned on and the flow of automatic amplification adjustment starts, the sound pressure level (input level) Lo of the external sound input from the external microphone 11 is detected in step S31. Based on this sound pressure level Lo, the primary adjustment relating to the increase / decrease of the amplification degree (gain) of the amplifier 22 is performed. The sound pressure level Lo of the external sound is adjusted by the primary adjustment according to the sound pressure level Lo of the external sound.
Even if the change occurs, the sound pressure is transmitted to the wearer's ear at the optimum level.

In the case of a hearing aid that does not have the automatic gain control function of changing the amplification level by following the sound pressure level Lo of the external sound, the hearing aid is preset based on various data of the hearing test in step S12. The fixed amplification factor input in advance to 1 becomes the amplification factor of the primary adjustment.

Next, in step S32, the sound pressure level Li of the self-voiced emphasized sound component separated from the internal sound is checked, and if it is larger than the predetermined first judgment value L1, step S3.
In step 3, make a secondary adjustment so that the sound pressure level is suitable for conversation. Then, in step S34, this adjustment state is maintained for a predetermined time.

In this secondary adjustment of the sound pressure level, the amplification degree of each frequency band subjected to the primary adjustment is changed, but the entire frequency range may be changed collectively, but in consideration of each frequency band,
The amplification degree of only the frequency band used for conversation may be increased, or the amplification degree of frequencies other than the frequency band used for conversation may be decreased. Alternatively, both may be performed at the same time.

The primary adjustment is changed by the secondary adjustment according to the sound pressure level Li of the self-voiced emphasized sound component separated from the internal sound, and the external sound including the voice of the conversation partner is changed at the sound pressure level suitable for the conversation. Since the sound is readjusted so as to be transmitted, the voice of the conversation partner can be easily heard.

The increase / decrease of the amplification degree is performed in step S3.
In step 3, the gain of the control target may be changed at a predetermined change speed at one time by executing once, but only the predetermined increment amount (or decrement amount) is changed, and the step S33 is executed several times. so,
The amplification degree of the control target may be set stepwise.

Then, by checking the sound pressure level Li of the self-voiced emphasized sound component in step S32, a predetermined first judgment value L
When it is smaller than 1, it is checked in step S35 whether or not the secondary adjustment is in progress. If the secondary adjustment is being performed, the amplification degree of the secondary adjustment is returned to the amplification degree of the primary adjustment in step S36. If the secondary adjustment is not being performed, step S31 is performed.
Return to primary adjustment. By the return of step S36, when there is no conversation, the original primary adjustment is restored and the external sound can be transmitted at the optimum level.

Regarding the return to the primary adjustment,
The amplification degree of the primary adjustment may be returned to the primary adjustment at a predetermined change speed at one time by executing step S36 once, but the amount of change to be returned in one execution is determined, and how many times the adjustment is returned to the primary adjustment. You may

Then, when the switch of the hearing aid is turned off, the flow is ended by the interruption of step S50.

In the above embodiment, the secondary adjustment is performed according to the sound pressure level Li of the self-emphasized sound component separated from the internal sound. Since the sound pressure level of occupies a large part, it is possible to perform secondary adjustment according to the sound pressure level of the internal sound without separating the self-voicing sound component.

[0068]

As described above, according to the hearing aid adjusting method and the hearing aid of the present invention, the primary level of the external sound is adjusted according to the sound pressure level of the external sound, so that the optimum level of the external sound is delivered to the wearer's ear. The sound pressure level suitable for the conversation can be obtained by performing secondary adjustment according to the sound pressure level of the self-voiced emphasized sound component separated from the internal sound during conversation. Then, the voice of the other party will be transmitted.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a method of adjusting a hearing aid and a hearing aid having an amplifying effect in accordance with human behavior.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the configuration of the hearing aid of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a method for creating adjustment data for a hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of an automatic amplification degree adjustment method for a hearing aid according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the ear and the wearing of the hearing aid.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional hearing aid.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 hearing aid 10 External sound input section 20 Amplifier 30 Output section 40 First Adjustment Unit 50 Internal sound input section 60 Second adjustment unit 70 Data setting section Lo External sound pressure level Li Sound pressure level of self-voiced emphasized sound component L1 predetermined judgment value

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method of adjusting a hearing aid that adjusts the amplification degree according to the input sound pressure level when amplifying and transmitting the sound, wherein the sound pressure level of an external sound input from the outside of the ear is used. A method of adjusting a hearing aid, wherein the amplification degree is primarily adjusted, and the amplification degree is secondarily adjusted based on a sound pressure level of an internal sound input from an internal sound input section arranged in the ear canal. 2. The secondary adjustment is an adjustment for increasing or decreasing the amplification degree according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound when the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined determination value. 1. The method for adjusting a hearing aid according to 1. 3. The hearing aid adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the primary adjustment is an adjustment for adjusting an output to a comfortable level with respect to a sound pressure level of the external sound. 4. The sound pressure level of the internal sound is set to 250 to 7
The method for adjusting a hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the internal sound in a frequency band of 50 Hz is used for measurement. 5. An external sound input unit for inputting an external sound outside the ear, an internal sound input unit for inputting sound inside the ear canal, and an input signal from the external sound input unit and the internal sound input unit. Amplifying section, a primary adjusting section that adjusts the amplification degree in the amplifying section according to the sound pressure level of the external sound, and a secondary adjusting section that adjusts the amplification degree in the amplifying section according to the sound pressure level of the internal sound. Hearing aid with. 6. The secondary adjuster, when the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined judgment value, adjusts the amplification degree of the external sound input section according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound. The hearing aid according to claim 5, wherein the hearing aid is adjusted to increase or decrease. 7. The hearing aid according to claim 5, wherein the primary adjuster adjusts the output to a comfortable level with respect to the sound pressure level of the external sound. 8. The secondary adjusting section increases or decreases the amplification degree of the external sound input section according to the magnitude of the sound pressure level of the internal sound when the sound pressure level of the internal sound exceeds a predetermined range. The hearing aid according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the hearing aid is returned to the original adjustment state after the adjustment is performed and the adjustment state is maintained for a predetermined time.