Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
  • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2225/41—Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
  • H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
  • H04R25/505—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics using digital signal processing

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method, a computer program and a computer-readable medium for operating a hearing system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hearing device and a hearing system.
• Hearing devices are generally small and complex devices. Hearing devices can include a processor, microphone, speaker, memory, housing, and other electronical and mechanical components. Some example hearing devices are Behind-The-Ear (BTE), Receiver-In-Canal (RIC), In-The-Ear (ITE), Completely-In-Canal (CIC), and Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) devices. A user can prefer one of these hearing devices compared to another device based on hearing loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs, and budget.
• BTE Behind-The-Ear
• RIC Receiver-In-Canal
• ITE In-The-Ear
• CIC Completely-In-Canal
• IIC Invisible-In-The-Canal
• a hearing device compensates for hearing loss with non-linear amplification. Since many people with hearing loss decide to get a hearing device at a late stage, an acclimatization process is beneficial, in which the hearing device gain is gradually increased over weeks and months. This slow gain scaling acclimatization process helps hearing device users over a long period of time to accept more and more gain. Such a slow acclimatization process over weeks and months as product functionality is available in some hearing devices.
• the hearing devices are usually only turned off at night for sleeping (about 8 hours).
• EP 1 802 169 A2 describes a method for a hearing device, in which the time period at which the hearing device is switched off is determined, and a parameter of the signal processing is automatically changed in dependence of the determined time period, where the parameter is related to amplification, sound, efficiency, and background noise suppression.
• a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a hearing system, which comprises one or two hearing devices.
• a hearing device may comprise members on the ear, in the ear and/or in the ear channel.
• the hearing device may comprise a microphone, a processor and an output device for outputting sound to the user.
• the method as described herein may be automatically performed by a processor controlling the hearing device.
• the method may be performed by a hearing system comprising one or two hearing devices and optionally a user device, which is in data communication with the one or two hearing devices.
• the user device may be a smartphone.
• the hearing device may be a hearing aid, i.e., a device adapted for compensating a hearing loss of a user, which has been customized with respect to the specific hearing loss of the user.
• the method comprises: determining a switch-off duration of the hearing device, when the hearing device is switched on.
• the switch-off duration is the time elapsed, since the hearing device has been switched off.
• the hearing device may be switched on and switched off with a button. After switch-off, the hearing device has a very low energy consumption and/or no audio signals are processed by the hearing device.
• the method further comprises: determining an acclimatization period in dependence of the switch-off duration, wherein a duration of the acclimatization period depends on the switch-off duration.
• the acclimatization period is a time period, in which the hearing device operates in a mode, in which amplification and/or sound processing is performed with a lower gain as in a normal mode.
• the acclimatization period may be seen as a short term acclimatization period, which has a duration from a few minutes to maximally some hours.
• a short term acclimatization period may be distinguished from a long term acclimatization period, which may last from several days to months.
• the duration of the acclimatization period depends on the switch-off duration.
• a longer switch-off duration may result in a longer acclimatization period.
• this dependence needs not be linear.
• a function and/or table may be stored in the hearing device and/or hearing system, from which the acclimatization period can be calculated in dependence of the switch-off duration. It also may be that, when the switch-off duration is smaller than a lower threshold, then the duration of the acclimatization period is 0. It also may be that, when the switch-off duration is higher than an upper threshold, then the duration of the acclimatization period is set to a maximal duration.
• the method further comprises: increasing a transition parameter from a starting value to a final value during the acclimatization period.
• the starting value as well as the transition parameter may be a value greater than 0 and/or smaller than 1.
• the final value may be 1 in this case.
• the dependence of the transition parameter on the time elapsed until the end of the acclimatization period may be linear or may have another dependence, which is strictly increasing.
• the method further comprises: processing an audio signal with the hearing device with at least one sound program, which sound program depends on at least one sound program parameter, and changing the at least one sound program parameter depending on the transition parameter.
• the at least one sound program parameter is (for example continuously) changed from an acclimatization start parameter to a fitted parameter.
• the audio signal is processed with the at least one sound program parameter set to the fitting parameter.
• the fitted parameter is the sound program parameter for the sound program, when the hearing device is operation in a normal operation mode.
• the at least one sound program parameter is set to the acclimatization start parameter.
• a minimal acclimatization start parameter may be chosen for each of a plurality of sound program parameters and the acclimatization start parameter may be the minimal acclimatization start parameter times the starting value.
• the at least one sound program parameter is set to a value between the acclimatization start parameter and the fitted parameter. In such a way, at the starting value the audio signal may be less modified by the sound program as compared to the final value.
• one transition parameter may be used for changing a plurality of sound program parameters in this way.
• the audio signal may be acquired with a microphone of the hearing device.
• the audio signal may be processed with a processor and in particular with a signal processor of the hearing device. This processing may be done in dependence of one or more sound processing parameters, which may be called sound programs and/or which influence sound programs.
• the processed audio signal then may be output to the user with a sound output device of the hearing device, such as a loudspeaker.
• the audio signal stays unprocessed by the sound program, i.e., the at least one sound program parameter is changed, such that the sound program does not modify the audio signal.
• the audio signal is processed with the at least one sound program parameter being the fitted parameter, i.e., the at least one sound program parameter is not changed compared to a normal operation mode.
• the transition parameter is between the starting value and the final value.
• the at least one sound program parameter is changed depending on the transition parameter transition parameter and the audio signal may be less modified by the sound program as compared to the unchanged at least one sound program parameter.
• Less modified may mean that a difference between unprocessed audio signal and the processed audio signal is smaller as compared to the case with the unchanged at least one sound program parameter.
• Less modified also may mean that the processed audio signal sounds more as the unprocessed audio signal to the user as compared to the case with the unchanged at least one sound program parameter.
• the audio signal is stronger processed at the starting value, for example it is stronger compressed as at the final value.
• the at least one sound program parameter may be changed by the transition parameter with a function that depends linearly on the transition parameter. For example, the at least one sound program parameter is multiplied with the transition parameter and optionally a constant value is added. Changing the at least one sound program parameter with the transition parameter may comprise multiplying the least one sound program parameter with the transition parameter.
• a sound processing parameter of 0 may mean that the corresponding sound program does not modify the audio signal.
• Such a sound processing parameter may be multiplied with a transition parameter, which is selected between 0 as starting value and 1 as final value.
• a sound program may amplify the audio signal with a user dependent frequency dependent gain.
• frequency dependent gains may be stored as sound processing parameters, which may have been set during customizing of the hearing device.
• a hearing care specialist may have set the frequency dependent gains dependent on an audiogram of the user. In this case, the frequency dependent gains may be multiplied with the transition parameter.
• noise cancelling and/or frequency shifting There may be other sound programs, which are applied to the audio signal, such as noise cancelling and/or frequency shifting. Also these sound programs may have been customized by the hearing care specialist and/or may depend on at least one sound program parameter.
• a noise cancelling parameter of 0 may mean that no noise is cancelled. Such a noise cancelling parameter may be multiplied with the transition parameter.
• a frequency shifting parameter of 0 may mean that there is no frequency shifting and such a frequency shifting parameter may be multiplied with the transition parameter.
• the starting value of the transition parameter is determined in dependence of the switch-off duration. Not only the duration of the acclimatization period, but also the transition parameter at the beginning of the acclimatization period may be determined from the switch-off duration.
• a longer switch-off duration may result in the starting value nearer to a minimal starting value of the transition parameter. This dependence may be linear or may depend on another function.
• a function and/or table may be stored in the hearing device and/or hearing system, from which the starting value can be calculated in dependence of the switch-off duration.
• the duration of the acclimatization period and the starting value determine a speed of the acclimatization. It also is possible that the starting value is calculated depending on the duration of the acclimatization period and a speed factor.
• the (short term) acclimatization period has a duration between 1 minute and 5 hours, in particular between 2 minutes and 1 hour.
• the short term acclimatization period should be distinguished from a long term acclimatization period, which can have a duration up to weeks or months.
• the method further comprises: determining an acoustic situation by evaluating the audio signal.
• Some hearing devices are adapted and/or designed to classify acoustic situations. This may be done with a conventional algorithm evaluating a frequency spectrum of the audio signal and/or with a machining learning algorithm, which classifies acoustic situations.
• Such acoustic situations may comprise noisy situations, loud situations, situations, in which other persons and/or the user are speaking, etc.
• an acoustic situation may be a classification of sound in an environment of the user of the hearing device.
• the acoustic situation when the hearing device is switched on, may influence the acclimatization period and/or the functionality of the hearing device during the acclimatization period.
• the acclimatization period depends on an acoustic situation at the time, when the hearing device is switched on.
• a speed of the acclimatization i.e., the increase rate of the transition parameter towards the final value, may be set automatically in dependence of the acoustic situation. This may be based on the hearing intention of the user. For example, when the user switches on the hearing device in a quiet situation, the duration of the acclimatization may be long and/or the starting value may be low compared to a loud situation.
• the method further comprises: interrupting and/or ending the acclimatization period, when a specific acoustic situation is determined.
• acclimatization period may be interrupted and/or ended, when a dangerous situation is detected, or when a special situation is detected that was selected by the user, for example, via a user interface.
• an acoustic situation with music or a radio playing may result in ending the acclimatization period.
• the specific acoustic situation indicates that a user of the hearing device is speaking.
• the acclimatization period may be interrupted, when the user is speaking.
• the acclimatization period may be interrupted and may be continued after the end of the own-voice.
• the duration of the short term acclimatization period and/or the starting value of the transition parameter depend on a user experience with hearing devices.
• the acclimatization period such as the duration or the starting value of the transition parameter may depend on the overall experienced of aided hearing of the hearing aid user. A non-experienced user may need a longer acclimatization duration or will need a bigger gain range then an experienced user.
• a value indicating the user experience may be stored as value in the hearing device and/or hearing system.
• the method further comprises: starting a timer in the hearing device, when the hearing device is switched off, wherein the switch-off duration is the time elapsed counted by the timer.
• the hearing device may have a sleep mode, in which a timer is counting, but no sound processing is performed. When the hearing device is switched off, it enters the sleep mode and when it is switched on, it enters a normal mode and starts sound processing.
• the method further comprises: informing a user device, which is in data communication with the hearing device, about the switch-off and switch-on, when the hearing device is switched off and switched on, wherein the switch-off duration is determined by the user device.
• the determination of the switch-off duration also may be performed by a user device, such as a smartphone, smartwatch, smart glasses, a smart ring, etc.
• the user device may run an application, which is informed by the hearing device, when it is switched off and on.
• the application then may determine the switch-off time with an internal clock.
• the application also may determine further parameters of the acclimatization period, such as the duration and/or the starting value of the transition parameter.
• the hearing system comprises a pair of hearing devices for each ear of a user of the hearing device.
• the user wears two hearing devices, which may operate independently of each other.
• an acclimatization period is determined independently by each hearing devices, wherein the acclimatization periods of the hearing devices are synchronized via a data communication link of the hearing devices.
• the hearing devices may communicate with each other and may adapt their acclimatization periods.
• the duration and/or the starting value of the transition parameter may be set to an average of the durations and/or transition parameters determined by the hearing devices.
• the method further comprises: displaying the transition parameter and/or the acclimatization period on a user interface of the user device.
• the user interface may be a graphical interface of the user device. The user can graphically see, how the acclimatization behaves and can change the momentary status of the acclimatization.
• the method further comprises: providing a user interface with the user device.
• the user interface With the user interface, the user can adapt the behavior of the acclimatization to her or his needs.
• the user interface may be provided by an application running in the user device.
• the hearing device user as well as a hearing care specialist can switch on and switch off or configure the general speed and scheme of the acclimatization in the application or a fitting software.
• the user interface is for stopping the acclimatization period.
• the user can abruptly finish the acclimatization process with the user interface.
• the user interface is for selecting a transition parameter profile for the transition parameter during the acclimatization period.
• the transition parameter profile may indicate, how steep the increase of the transition parameter is and/or how the increase rate changes during the acclimatization period.
• the user interface is for selecting a default duration for the acclimatization period.
• the duration of the acclimatization period may depend on the default duration.
• the duration may be calculated as the default duration times a factor determined from the switch-off duration.
• the user interface is for selecting a default starting value for the transition parameter.
• the starting value of the transition parameter may depend on the default starting value.
• the starting value may be calculated as the default starting value times a factor determined from the switch-off duration.
• the user selection is stored with respect to further parameters, such as a time of day, an acoustic situation, etc.
• the acclimatization period then may be set in dependence of actual parameters at the time of the switch-on. In such a way, the hearing device and/or hearing system can learn, which acclimatization process the user wishes in different situations.
• a further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program for operating a hearing device and/or a hearing system, which, when being executed by a processor of the hearing device and/or by processors of the hearing system, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method as described in the above and in the following.
• a further aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, in which such a computer program is stored.
• the computer-readable medium may be a memory of the hearing device and/or the hearing system.
• a computer-readable medium may be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an USB (Universal Serial Bus) storage device, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a FLASH memory.
• a computer-readable medium may also be a data communication network, e.g., the Internet, which allows downloading a program code.
• the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory or transitory medium.
• the hearing device 12 also comprises a data communication interface 30 for wireless data communication with further devices.
• the hearing system 10 comprises a pair of hearing devices 12a, 12b, wherein each hearing device 12a, 12b has the components as shown in Fig. 1 for the hearing device 12. These two hearing devices 12a, 12b may communicate with each other via the data communication interface 30.
• the acoustic situation 46 when the hearing device is switched on, i.e., at the time t on , may influence the acclimatization period and/or the functionality of the hearing device 12 during the acclimatization period.
• a speed of the acclimatization i.e., the increase rate of the transition parameter 38 towards the final value g f , may be set automatically in dependence of the acoustic situation 46. This may be based on the hearing intention of the user. For example, when the user switches on the hearing device 12 in a quiet situation, the duration d acc of the acclimatization may be long and/or the starting value may be low compared to a loud situation.
• the audio signal 22 is processed with the at least one sound program parameter 42, which is unmodified, i.e., the at least one sound program parameter 42 is not changed.
• the one or more sound programs 40 operate such as customized in the hearing device 12 and the hearing device 12 can go over continuously into a normal mode.
• the sound program parameters 42 may be changed by the transition parameter 38 with a function that depends linearly on the transition parameter 38.
• the sound program parameters 42 may be multiplied with the transition parameter 38 and optionally, a constant value may be added.
• Changing the sound program parameters 42 with the transition parameter 38 may comprise multiplying the sound program parameter 42 with the transition parameter 38.
• the dependence of the sound program parameters 42 on the transition parameter 38 may be linear or logarithmic and in general may be defined by hearing difficult perception models.
• the frequency dependent gains may be multiplied with the transition parameter 38.
• a noise cancelling parameter 42 of 0 may mean that no noise is cancelled.
• Such a noise cancelling parameter 42 may be multiplied with the transition parameter 38.
• Fig. 3C shows that the acclimatization period may be interrupted in specific situations.
• the acclimatization period is interrupted between the time t 1 and the time tz and the transition parameter 38 is set to the final value g f between these time points.
• the transition parameter calculator 48 may interrupt and/or end the acclimatization period, when it receives a specific acoustic situation 46 from the classifier 44. In some acoustic situations 46 it may be beneficial, when the reduced sound processing is turned off. For example, the acclimatization period may be interrupted and/or ended, when a dangerous situation 46 is detected, or when a special situation 46 is detected that was selected by the user. As an example, an acoustic situation 46 with music and/or a radio playing may result in ending of the acclimatization period.
• the user interface 32 may provide a control element 36 for stopping the acclimatization period. The user can abruptly finish the acclimatization process with the user interface 32.
• the user also may configure attributes of the acclimatization period. For example, the user can select a speed of the acclimatization, such as slow, mid, fast. The user can select an acclimatization range, such as small, big, max. The speed and range may scale with the switch-off duration d off . The user also may select an acclimatization mode, which defines the form of the curve of the transition parameter, such as linear, exponential, nonlinear, logarithmic, loudness perception dependent, etc.
• the user interface 32 may be used for selecting a transition parameter profile 52 for the transition parameter 38 during the acclimatization period.
• the transition parameter profile may indicate, how steep the increase of the transition parameter is and/or how the increase rate changes during the acclimatization period.
• the user interface 32 may be used for selecting a default duration for the acclimatization period.
• the duration d acc of the acclimatization period may depend on the default duration.
• the duration d acc may be calculated as the default duration times a factor determined from the switch-off duration d off .
• the user interface is for selecting a default starting value for the transition parameter 38.
• the starting value g f of the transition parameter 38 may depend on the default starting value.
• the starting value g f may be calculated as the default starting value times a factor determined from the switch-off duration d off .
• the user selections may be stored with respect to further parameters, such as a time of day, an acoustic situation, GPS location, etc.
• the acclimatization period then may be set in dependence of actual parameters at the time of the switch-on. In such a way, the hearing device 12 and/or hearing system 10 can learn, which acclimatization process the user wishes in different situations.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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• Neurosurgery (AREA)
• Otolaryngology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-01-23 EP EP24153518.6A patent/EP4593423A1/fr active Pending

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