An ear-wearable electronic device includes one or more processors configured to detect presence of first and second hearing devices in a charging case, and to initiate a self-check protocol by at least one of the first and second hearing devices. The self-check protocol comprises wirelessly coupling the first and second hearing devices, selectively activating at least one electronic component of the first hearing device, and assessing performance of the second hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the first hearing device. The self-check protocol also comprises selectively activating at least one electronic component of the second hearing device, assessing performance of the first hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the second device, and storing results of the performance assessment in a memory.

An audio accessory having a locally stored and executed policy. The policy includes a rule related to audio output generation. The audio accessory can be a peripheral audio accessory, and the policy can be stored on the peripheral audio accessory so that the policy can be applied to communications from any source.

A method is indicated for operating a hearing aid, wherein the hearing aid is switchable between a usage state, in which a signal processing unit of the hearing aid is activated, and an idle state, in which the signal processing unit is deactivated. The hearing aid has a time measuring unit, which has a first timer and a second timer. The first timer is activated in the usage state and is deactivated in the idle state, for time measurement during the usage state. The second timer is activated in the idle state for time measurement during the idle state. Furthermore, a corresponding hearing aid is indicated.

A method for initializing a long-term-storage mode for a hearing instrument having a rechargeable battery cell includes predetermining an upper limiting value of a parameter for a state of charge of the rechargeable battery cell for long-term storage of the hearing instrument. An actual value, actually present, of the parameter for the state of charge is measured within an activation routine for long-term storage. The measured actual value of the parameter for the state of charge is compared with the upper limiting value of the parameter for the state of charge, and if the measured actual value of the parameter lies above the upper limiting value, the battery cell is discharged at least until the parameter has reached the predetermined upper limiting value, and the hearing instrument is placed into a long-term-storage mode. A hearing instrument is also provided.

An apparatus includes at least one housing configured to be implanted within a body of a recipient, at least one acoustic transducer positioned on or within the at least one housing, at least one motion sensor positioned on or within the at least one housing, gain circuitry configured to apply a gain to transducer output signals from the at least one acoustic transducer, at least one storage device, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one acoustic transducer, the at least one motion sensor, the gain circuitry, and the at least one storage device. The at least one processor is configured to adjust the gain circuitry in response to a reference acoustic sensitivity function, a reference vibration response function, the transducer output signals, and sensor output signals from the at least one motion sensor.

A hearing assistance device is discussed that has one or more accelerometers, a user interface, and optionally a left/right determination module is configured to receive input data from the one or more accelerometers from user actions causing control signals as sensed by the accelerometers to trigger a program change for an audio configuration for the device selected from a group consisting of a change in amplification/volume control, a change in a mute mode, a change of a hear loss profile loaded into that hearing assistance device, and a change in a play-pause mode.

A wearable multifunction device or earpiece or a pair of earpieces includes one or more processors, at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors, a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions causing the one or more processors to perform the operations of sensing a remaining battery life and based on the sensing, prioritizing one or more of the functions of always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, personal audio assistant functions, transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, transmission of data to a cloud device.

Presented herein are techniques that use acoustic scene (environmental) analysis to determine the sound class of sound signals received at a hearing prosthesis and, accordingly, assess the estimated listening difficulty that the acoustic environment presents to a recipient of the hearing prosthesis. This difficulty of the recipient's listening situation can be used to adjust, adapt, or otherwise set the resolution of the electrical stimulation signals delivered to the recipient to evoke perception of the sound signals. In other words, the resolution of the electrical stimulation signals is dynamically adapted based on the present acoustic environment of the hearing prosthesis.

Embodiments herein relate to systems, devices and methods for fitting hearing assistance devices. In a first aspect, a method of fitting a hearing assistance device is included, the method including providing an audio sample to a hearing assistance device wearer, receiving input from the hearing assistance device wearer regarding a preferred sound volume or perceived loudness, receiving input from the hearing assistance device wearer with the external device regarding a bass/treble balance, and determining a maximum power output of the hearing assistance device that does not exceed a loudness discomfort level (LDL). Other embodiments are also included herein.

A hearing device comprises a receiver module for insertion into an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The hearing device comprises a signal processor, and a controller. The receiver module comprises an output transducer, a vent having a vent valve device configured to open and close the vent. The controller is configured to electrically manipulate the vent valve device to be in a first position or in a second position based on a first signal received from the signal processor whereby the vent valve device is configured to move between the first position and the second position in response thereto. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the first position a first sound is produced. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the second position a second sound is produced. The first sound and/or the second sound are detectable by one or more input transducers.