JP6041243B2 - Hearing aid fitting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hearing aid fitting device for inputting fitting data to a hearing aid.

Conventionally, when fitting a hearing aid, the hearing ability of the deaf person is first measured, and then fitting data calculated based on this hearing ability is input to the hearing aid, and then the hearing aid is worn on the hearing person. Fine adjustments were made.
This fine adjustment allows hearing-impaired people with hearing aids to hear evaluation sounds and sounds, and fine-tunes the fitting data to eliminate dissatisfaction with how to hear it. Experience is required. For this reason, it has been difficult for an adjuster who has little experience in adjustment work.

Therefore, the problem that is appealed from the hearing-impaired person at the time of fitting and the adjustment method for each problem are layered in advance, and based on the dissatisfaction with the hearing obtained from the hearing-impaired person at the time of fitting, the problem can be easily solved by following the database hierarchy. A method called wizard adjustment that can be easily identified and adjusted is widely used.
In general, in order to further improve the usability of such a hierarchical menu, a method in which a frequently used menu is displayed at the top is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-99231 A

Wizard adjustment can be used easily even by an inexperienced adjuster, but its contents may be used without the understanding of the adjuster, and may cause unexpected side effects as shown in the following example. .
First, suppose that a fine adjustment is performed to increase the gain of all frequencies by wizard adjustment so that the first person feels that the sound is low and the sound is good. As a result, the gain in the entire frequency range was raised, so that the female voice can be heard a little louder. Therefore, we adjusted the wizard to solve the problem when the female voice was loud. As a result, adjustment was made to reduce the gain in the entire frequency range. As a result, it returns to the beginning.

In such wizard adjustment that is easy to operate and can be automatically adjusted, in particular, the more inexperienced the adjuster, the more likely it is to make a conflicting adjustment without knowing it.
However, the conventional hearing aid fitting method as described in Patent Document 1 solves the problem of performing the contradictory operations that occur in the fitting operation of a hearing aid that improves the adjustment value while confirming hearing appropriately. I can't.

Therefore, the present invention includes an input unit for performing a fitting operation, a control unit connected to the input unit, an adjustment value memory, a wizard database, a wizard selection history memory, and a contradiction item check unit. The adjustment value memory is connected to the control unit and stores hearing data and adjustment values. The wizard database is connected to the control unit and stores parameter information used when performing wizard adjustment corresponding to a plurality of hierarchies. The wizard selection history memory is connected to the control unit and stores history information selected during the previous wizard execution. The contradiction item check unit is connected to the control unit, and compares the currently selected menu information with the history information stored in the wizard selection history memory to check whether there is an inconsistent item.
(Effect of the invention)
According to the present invention, since the contradiction item check unit is provided in the control unit, the contradiction operation can be pointed out by comparing the fitting operation at the previous fine adjustment with the current fitting operation. As a result, since smooth fitting without contradiction can be performed, usability can be improved.

The perspective view explaining the fitting state of the hearing aid which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The control block diagram of the fitting apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing regarding the conventional subject. The figure which shows wizard DB of the fitting apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the display part of the fitting apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the display part of the fitting apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the display part of the fitting apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the display part of the fitting apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a fitting device (a hearing aid fitting device) 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Hearing aid 1)
First, the configuration of the hearing aid 1 connected to the fitting device 4 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the hearing aid 1 is connected to the fitting device 4 via the connection box 3 while being fitted to the ear of the user 2, and fitting is performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hearing aid 1 includes a microphone 7, an A / D converter 8, a hearing aid processing unit 9, a D / A converter 10, a receiver 11, and an adjustment value data storage unit 12.
The microphone 7 acquires sound information.
The A / D converter 8 converts the sound information acquired by the microphone 7 from an analog signal to a digital signal and transmits the converted signal to the hearing aid processing unit 9.

The hearing aid processing unit 9 performs hearing aid processing on the digital signal received from the A / D converter 8.
The D / A converter 10 converts the digital signal received from the hearing aid processing unit 9 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal.
The receiver 11 outputs the analog signal output from the D / A converter 10 to the ear of the user 2.

The adjustment value data storage unit 12 stores information on hearing aid parameters used in the hearing aid processing unit 9. Specifically, the latest fitting data is stored in the adjustment value data storage unit 12 from the control unit 13 of the fitting apparatus 4 via the connection box 3.
(Fitting device 4)
The fitting apparatus 4 of this embodiment is provided with the display part 5 and the input part 6, as shown in FIG.

In the fitting device 4, when fitting the hearing aid 1 in the configuration of FIG. 1, an audio signal output from a speaker (not shown) of the fitting device 4 is transmitted from the microphone 7 of the hearing aid 1 to the A / D converter 8 and the hearing aid. Evaluation is performed by the user 2 by supplying it to the processing unit 9, the D / A converter 10, and the receiver 11 (see FIG. 2).
In the present embodiment, first, based on the hearing data of the user 2, for example, NAL-NL1, DSL, FIG. 6, parameters obtained by a well-known fitting theory such as IHAFF are used as initial fitting parameters of the hearing aid processing unit 9 of the hearing aid 1, and fine adjustment is performed from the initial fitting parameters.

The detailed configuration of the fitting device 4 will be described in detail later.
<Wizard function>
Here, the wizard function employed by the fitting device 4 of the present embodiment will be described.
As is well known, the wizard function has a hierarchy of tasks that are appealed from the hearing-impaired person at the time of fitting and adjustment methods for each task, and the database is based on dissatisfaction with the hearing that is obtained from the hearing-impaired person at the time of fitting the hearing aid 1. This is an adjustment method that can easily identify problems and make adjustments simply by following the hierarchy.

In wizard adjustment for hearing aid fitting, for example, a solution for an appeal such as “sound is low” is not uniquely determined, and a plurality of solutions can be considered. For this reason, as a result of tracing the database, the coordinator needs to select and use an appropriate adjustment method from the plurality of solutions presented in the last hierarchy according to the time.
Specifically, the fitting device 4 performs the first to third stages 20A to 22A (see FIG. 5) based on the evaluation such as “sound is heard small” obtained after letting the hearing impaired person hear the test voice. Follow the hierarchical menu presented in this way to identify the problem and solution.

First, the adjuster should choose the appropriate choice from the choices of hearing, such as “large”, “small”, “unclear”, “kinky”, and “unnatural sound” presented as the first hierarchy. Select.
For example, when “low” is selected in the first hierarchy, the second hierarchy is “speech is low”, “speech is low”, “male is low”, “own” More detailed options such as “voice is low” and “small sound is low” are presented, and the coordinator selects an appropriate option.

Furthermore, when “sound is low” is selected here, adjustment contents such as “increase the gain of the audio band”, “increase the gain of all frequencies”, “increase the frequency of the low frequency” as the third layer The choices are presented.
When “increase the gain of the voice band” is selected in the third layer, adjustment is performed to increase the gain of the frequency band corresponding to the voice band.

By repeating the series of hearing aid wizard steps from the first layer to the third layer while listening to the test sound, the final fitting data can be determined while gradually improving the adjustment parameters. it can.
<Problem of wizard function>
Now, by performing hearing aid fitting using such a wizard function, even an inexperienced adjuster can easily perform hearing aid fitting without entering detailed numerical values. Such a problem also occurs.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the first wizard adjustment operation, the first layer “small”, the second layer “sound is low”, and the third layer “increase gain in all frequency bands” are selected. After adjustment value A is confirmed, in the second wizard adjustment operation, the first layer “high”, the second layer “high female voice”, and the third layer “decrease gain in all frequency bands” were selected. In this case, the adjustment value B returns to the initial state that is the original set value.

That is, “Increase gain in all frequency bands” selected in the third hierarchy of the first wizard adjustment operation and “Decrease gain in all frequency bands” selected in the third hierarchy of the second wizard adjustment operation. Therefore, even if the adjustment work is intended to proceed, there may be a case where the initial state in which no adjustment is made is returned as a result.
(Detailed configuration of the fitting device 4)
Therefore, the fitting device 4 of the present embodiment employs the following configuration so as not to cause the contradictory adjustment as described above.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the fitting device 4 includes a display unit 5, an input unit 6, a control unit 13 connected to the display unit 5 and the input unit 6, an adjustment value memory 14, and a wizard selection history. A memory 15, a contradiction item check unit 16, and a wizard database (hereinafter referred to as wizard DB) 17 are provided.
The control unit 13 is connected with an adjustment value memory 14, a wizard selection history memory 15, an inconsistent item check unit 16, and a wizard DB 17.

The display part 5 displays the adjustment screen of the hearing aid 1 as shown in FIG.
The input unit 6 receives operation information such as an hearing instruction of a hearing impaired person and an adjustment instruction using wizard adjustment.
The adjustment value memory 14 stores hearing data and adjustment values.
In the wizard selection history memory 15, history information selected at the time of executing the wizard up to the previous time described later (in this embodiment, a management number (see FIG. 4)) is stored.

The contradictory item check unit 16 compares the currently selected menu information with the history information stored in the wizard selection history memory 15 during the hearing aid fitting process, and confirms whether there is an inconsistent item. .
As shown in FIG. 4, the wizard DB 17 corresponds to the menu displayed in the first hierarchy, the menu displayed in the second hierarchy, the menu displayed in the third hierarchy, and the menu selected in the third hierarchy. The adjustment parameter and the management number assigned to each item are stored.

(Connection box 3)
As shown in FIG. 2, the connection box 3 includes a hearing aid writing unit 18 and a hearing aid reading unit 19 connected to the control unit 13 of the fitting device 4 and the adjustment value data storage unit 12 of the hearing aid 1.
When the hearing aid writing unit 18 receives an instruction to write a new parameter to the hearing aid 1 through the input unit 6, the hearing aid writing unit 18 stores the new parameter in the adjustment value data storage unit 12 of the hearing aid 1 through the control unit 13. When a new parameter is written in the adjustment value data storage unit 12, the hearing aid 1 uses the A / D converter 8, the hearing aid processing unit 9, the D / A converter 10, the sound information obtained by the microphone 7 based on the parameter, By supplying to the receiver 11, it is provided to the user 2.

The hearing aid reading unit 18 reads the parameters stored in the adjustment value data storage unit 12 when the user 2 visits the store where the fitting device 4 is installed for readjustment and the like. Has the function to provide.
<Operation of fitting device 4>
The operation of the fitting device 4 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

(1st wizard adjustment)
FIG. 5 shows a screen of the display unit 5 when the first wizard adjustment is performed.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the upper center of the screen, a fitting data graph is displayed. From the lower left to the right of the screen, the first hierarchical menu 20A, the second hierarchical menu 21A, the third hierarchical menu 22A, and the lower right The application buttons 23 for writing the fitting data to the hearing aid are respectively displayed.

When the wizard is started, the control unit 13 reads the menu information displayed on the first layer from the wizard DB 17 and displays it on the first layer menu 20A of the display unit 5. The first hierarchy menu 20A displays and selects how the test sound was heard as a rough evaluation.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, “small” is selected from the menu using the input unit 6 such as a mouse by the adjuster.

Next, the control unit 13 reads the menu information corresponding to “small” from the wizard DB 17 and displays it on the second hierarchy menu 21 </ b> A of the display unit 5. In the second hierarchy menu 21A, a more detailed evaluation is displayed and selected for the content selected in the above-described first hierarchy menu 20A (in this embodiment, “small”).
In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjuster has selected “sound is low” from the menu using the input unit 6.

Further, the control unit 13 reads the menu information corresponding to “sound is low” from the wizard DB 17 and displays the menu information on the third hierarchy menu 22 </ b> A of the display unit 5.
In the third hierarchy menu 22A, how to adjust as a result is specifically displayed and selected.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjuster uses the input unit 6 to select “Raise gain of all frequencies” from the menu. In the case of this selected menu, the assigned management number is 6-2 (see FIG. 4).

  When the application button 23 is pressed, the control unit 13 reads out the parameter corresponding to “increase the gain of all frequencies”, applies it to the fitting data, and adjusts the adjustment value data via the connection box 3. The sound is stored in the storage unit 12, and the user 2 listens with the hearing aid 1. Further, the control unit 13 records the selected management number 6-2 in the wizard selection history memory 15.

When the fitting data determined here is sufficiently satisfactory for the user 2, the fitting wizard is finished as it is.
(2nd wizard adjustment)
On the other hand, if the result is not sufficiently satisfactory for the user 2, the second wizard adjustment is executed.

Here, in the first adjustment, “sound is low” is selected and the adjustment is performed. As a result, for example, the user 2 feels that the female voice sounds a little louder, so that it is corrected. I will do it.
When the second wizard is started, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the control unit 13 reads the menu information of the first hierarchical level from the wizard DB 17 and displays the menu information in the first hierarchical level of the display unit 5. Display.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, “large” is selected from the menu using the input unit 6 by the adjuster.
Next, the control unit 13 reads the menu information corresponding to “large” from the wizard DB 17 and displays it on the second hierarchy menu 21 </ b> B of the display unit 5.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the coordinator selects the “high female voice” from the menu using the input unit 6.

Now, the control part 13 reads the menu information corresponding to "a female voice is loud" from wizard DB17, and displays it on the 3rd hierarchy menu 22B of the display part 5. FIG.
At this time, the contradiction item check unit 16 confirms the history information stored in the wizard selection history memory 15 when the first wizard is executed.
If the contradiction item check unit 16 confirms that there is a menu item that contradicts the history, the control unit 13 displays the font size small so that the menu item can be distinguished from other menus. Thus, the display unit 5 is controlled.

Here, the contradictory menu item is, for example, 0 when the adjustment parameter corresponding to each of the menu information displayed on the third layer menu and the adjustment parameter corresponding to the contradictory menu item are added. This means menu items that perform conflicting adjustments.
In the fitting device 4 of the present embodiment, by performing such display, it is possible to easily identify a menu having contents that contradict the previously selected item. For this reason, smooth fitting with no contradiction can be performed.

As a result, the adjuster can easily select “decrease mid-high range gain” that was second in the menu in the second adjustment or “decrease high-frequency gain” that was third in the menu. Can do. That is, it is possible to urge the adjuster not to select “decrease the gain of all frequencies” that contradicts the first adjustment.
As a result, the first adjustment was performed to increase the gain of all frequencies and maintain the improved male voice gain while reducing the high-frequency gain peculiar to female voice. Can be implemented. Therefore, even an adjuster who has little experience in adjustment can perform fitting without repeating adjustments inconsistent with previous adjustments.

In the present embodiment, the conflicting menu item font size is reduced to facilitate identification, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, display control for changing the font color to a color that can be distinguished from other menus, display control for displaying the display position below the menu as shown in FIG. 7, and contradictory menus as shown in FIG. The option of display control can also be adopted.

  The present invention makes it easy to identify a menu having contents that contradict the previously selected menu item in repeated operations of the wizard several times, so that smooth fitting without contradiction can be performed and usability can be improved. As an effect that it can be used, it is expected to be used as a hearing aid fitting device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hearing aid 2 User 3 Connection box 4 Fitting device 5 Display part 6 Input part 7 Microphone 8 A / D converter 9 Hearing aid processing part 10 D / A converter 11 Receiver 12 Adjustment value data storage part 13 Control part 14 Adjustment value memory 15 Wizard Selection history memory 16 Inconsistent item check unit 17 Wizard DB (wizard database)
18 Hearing aid writing unit 19 Hearing aid reading unit 20A, 20B First stage menu 21A, 21B Second stage menu 22A, 22B Third stage menu 23 Apply button

Claims (7)

An input unit for performing a fitting operation;
A control unit connected to the input unit;
An adjustment value memory connected to the control unit and storing hearing data and adjustment values;
A wizard database that is connected to the control unit and stores parameter information used when performing wizard adjustment corresponding to a plurality of layers;
A wizard selection history memory connected to the control unit and storing history information selected at the time of the previous wizard execution;
A contradiction item check unit that is connected to the control unit and compares the currently selected menu information with the history information stored in the wizard selection history memory to check whether there is a contradiction item;
A hearing aid fitting device comprising: A display unit for displaying the contents of hearing aid fitting processing by the control unit;
In addition,
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 1. The control unit displays a plurality of fitting menus on the display unit.
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 2. When the contradiction item is detected in the contradiction item check unit, the control unit specifies and displays a fitting menu corresponding to the contradiction handling operation in a plurality of fitting menus for the next operation displayed on the display unit. To control the display unit,
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 3. The specific display includes a display in which the fitting menu font size corresponding to the contradiction handling operation is different from the font sizes of the other fitting menus in a plurality of fitting menus displayed on the display unit for the next operation. included,
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 4. The specific display includes a display in which the fitting menu display color corresponding to the contradiction handling operation is different from the display colors of the other fitting menus in the plurality of fitting menus for the next operation displayed on the display unit. included,
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 4. In the specific display, in the plurality of fitting menus for the next operation displayed on the display unit, the display order of the fitting menu corresponding to the contradiction handling operation is lower than the display order of the other fitting menus. Included,
The hearing aid fitting device according to claim 4.

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