Method for fitting a hearing device as well as an arrangement for fitting the hearing device

Abstract

An exemplary method for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user performed by a fitting system operatively connected to but remote from the hearing device includes providing, to the hearing device, an adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using a fitting system and a specification comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter defined by the fitter using the fitting system. The method further includes transferring the adjustable parameter and the specification to a user interface operatively connected to the hearing device and located with the hearing device for use by the hearing device user, receiving an adjusted parameter value for the adjustable parameter adjusted by the hearing device user with aid of the user interface to be within the allowed range, and updating the adjustable parameter in a transfer function of the hearing device based on the adjusted parameter value.

Claims

1. A method comprising: providing, by a fitting system operatively connected via a connection to a hearing device that is at least partially inserted into an ear of a hearing device user, an adjustable parameter to the hearing device, the adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using the fitting system while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device, the hearing device including a transfer function defined by one or more parameters including the adjustable parameter; providing, by the fitting system to the hearing device, a specification for the adjustable parameter, the specification defined by the fitter using the fitting system while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device and comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter; transferring, by the fitting system via the connection and to a user interface operatively connected to the hearing device and located with the hearing device for use by the hearing device user, the one or more parameters and the specification defined by the fitter that comprises the allowed range for the adjustable parameter; receiving, by the fitting system via the connection and from the user interface, an adjusted parameter value for the adjustable parameter, the adjusted parameter value adjusted by the hearing device user with aid of the user interface to be within the allowed range for the adjustable parameter comprised in the specification defined by the fitter; and updating, by the fitting system in response to the receiving of the adjusted parameter value from the user interface, the adjustable parameter in the transfer function based on the adjusted parameter value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: defining, by the fitting system, an adjustment task; and transmitting, by the fitting system, the adjustment task to the user interface to inform the user of the adjustment task.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: defining, by the fitting system, a sound environment; and transmitting, by the fitting system, information representative of the defined sound environment to the user interface to activate a sound system in a vicinity of the hearing device user to create the sound environment defined by the fitting system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the adjusted parameter value and the updating of the adjustable parameter in the transfer function are performed in real-time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, by the fitting system, a second adjustable parameter value of a second adjustable parameter within the one or more parameters; and transmitting, by the fitting system to the user interface, the second adjustable parameter value of the second adjustable parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustable parameter comprises at least one of a volume parameter, a left/right balance parameter, a tonal balance parameter, a hearing program, a frequency compression parameter, and a parameter related to a tinnitus masking signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the one or more parameters are adjustable parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowed range for the adjustable parameter is limited such that no detrimental settings are possible in the hearing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustable parameter is restored to a last saved value if the connection is interrupted.

10. A fitting system operatively connected via a connection to a hearing device that is at least partially inserted into an ear of a hearing device user, the fitting system comprising: at least one physical computing device that provides an adjustable parameter to the hearing device, the adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using the fitting system while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device, the hearing device including a transfer function defined by one or more parameters including the adjustable parameter; provides, to the hearing device, a specification for the adjustable parameter, the specification defined by the fitter using the fitting system while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device and comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter; transfers, via the connection to a user interface operatively connected to the hearing device and located with the hearing device for use by the hearing device user, the one or more parameters and the specification defined by the fitter that comprises the allowed range for the adjustable parameter; receives, via the connection from the user interface, an adjusted parameter value for the adjustable parameter, the adjusted parameter value adjusted by the hearing device user with aid of the user interface to be within the allowed range for the adjustable parameter comprised in the specification defined by the fitter; and updates, in response to the receipt of the adjusted parameter value from the user interface, the adjustable parameter in the transfer function based on the adjusted parameter value.

11. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physical computing device further: defines an adjustment task in the fitting system; and transmits the adjustment task to the user interface to inform the hearing device user of the adjustment task.

12. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physical computing device further: defines a sound environment; and transmits information representative of the defined sound environment to the user interface to activate a sound system in a vicinity of the hearing device user to create the sound environment.

13. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physical computing device further: adjusts a second adjustable parameter value of a second adjustable parameter within the one or more parameters; and transmits, to the user interface, the second adjustable parameter value of the second adjustable parameter.

14. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the adjustable parameter comprises at least one of a volume parameter, a left/right balance parameter, a tonal balance parameter, a hearing program, a frequency compression parameter, and a parameter related to a tinnitus masking signal.

15. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the user interface is configured to facilitate the hearing device user in adjusting at least two adjustable parameters of the one or more parameters simultaneously.

16. The fitting system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physical computing device receives the adjusted parameter value and updates the adjustable parameter in the transfer function in real-time.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions configured to cause at least one physical computing device to: provide an adjustable parameter to a hearing device that is at least partially inserted into an ear of a hearing device user, the adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using a fitting system that is operatively connected to the hearing device via a connection while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device, the hearing device including a transfer function defined by one or more parameters including the adjustable parameter; provide, to the hearing device, a specification for the adjustable parameter, the specification defined by the fitter using the fitting system while the fitting system is located remotely from the hearing device and comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter; transfer, via the connection to a user interface operatively connected to the hearing device and located with the hearing device for use by the hearing device user, the one or more parameters and the specification defined by the fitter that comprises the allowed range for the adjustable parameter; receive, via the connection from the user interface, an adjusted parameter value for the adjustable parameter, the adjusted parameter value adjusted by the hearing device user with aid of the user interface to be within the allowed range for the adjustable parameter comprised in the specification defined by the fitter; and update, in response to the receipt of the adjusted parameter value from the user interface, the adjustable parameter in the transfer function based on the adjusted parameter value.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the at least one physical computing device to: define an adjustment task; and transmit the adjustment task to the user interface to inform the hearing device user of the adjustment task.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the at least one physical computing device to: define a sound environment; and transmit information representative of the defined sound environment to the user interface to activate a sound system in a vicinity of the hearing device user to create the sound environment defined by the at least one physical computing device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the at least one physical computing device to receive the adjusted parameter value and update the adjustable parameter in the transfer function in real-time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is further described by referring to drawings showing exemplified embodiments of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows an inventive arrangement for fitting a hearing device worn by a user and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 schematically shows an arrangement for fitting two hearing devices 2, 3 being part of a binaural hearing system that is worn by a user 1. As the term “hearing device” is defined as being one or two devices, the singular form is used in the following detailed description even though FIG. 1 shows two devices 2 and 3.

(5) The hearing device 2, 3 is connectable to a user interface 4 via an interconnection 8. The user interface 4 has input and display capabilities and is designed to be operate-able by the user 1, e.g. the user interface 4 is adapted to the needs of patients having no particular computer skills. The user interface 4 may, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, very well be a touch pad device or a gesture-controlled device. A wide variety of devices are readily available in the art. In particular, the user interface 4 may be a remote control, any hearing device accessory, such as a streaming device, a smart phone, a music-player, an E-Book Reader or a general electronic device, a wii console or any internet television set.

(6) The interconnection 8 may be a wired or a wireless connection, the latter being based, for example, on a standard such as Bluetooth. Other embodiments may use RF—(Radio Frequency), HIBAN being based on magnetic induction, IR—(Infra Red), Sound or DTMF.

(7) A hearing care professional, hereinafter called fitter 5, controls a fitting system 6, e.g. a personal computer with dedicated software. The fitting system 6 may be connected via a connection 7 to the hearing device 2, 3 and/or to the user interface 4. The connection 7 is a bi-directional fast communication link, e.g. based on TCP/IP protocol as the World Wide Web.

(8) While the fitting system 6 is at the fitter's location, the user interface 4 is at the user's location. In general, these physical locations are far away from each other. It is therefore that the connection is called remote connection and the fitting setup is called remote setup. However, the arrangement according to the present invention may very well be operated if the locations of the user 1 and the fitter 5 are rather close, e.g. only separated by a wall. In fact, the arrangement according to the invention may also be operated if the user 1 and the fitter 5 are in the same room. This so called “in-the-office” fitting may be used for a first time instruction of the user 1 by the fitter 5, e.g. for handing over the hearing device 2, 3 and/or the user interface 4 as well as for introducing the collaborative fitting according to the present invention to the user. However, a typical use of the arrangement according to the present invention clearly is the remote setup.

(9) In the remote setup, as already mentioned above, the user 1 of the hearing device 1, 2 and the fitter 5 are not at the same physical location during the fitting process. To allow communication between the user 1 and the fitter 5 during the remote fitting session, and to provide suitable sound environments at the location of the hearing device user 1, the connection 7 is established and preserved during the entire fitting process.

(10) The method for fitting the hearing device 2, 3 is carried out in a collaborative way between the fitter 5 and the user 1. Thereby, the user 1 wears his hearing device 2, 3 and the fitter 5 selects a parameter or several parameters to be adjusted. These so called adjustable parameters are given a starting value and/or an allowed range within not only the starting value but any given value later on must be. The fitter 5 defines the adjustable parameters, starting values and/or allowed range via an input unit of the fitting system 6. These definitions are sent via the connection 7 to the hearing device 2, 3 and/or to the user interface 4 and are immediately effective or after a predefined delay.

(11) The user 1 may then adjust the adjustable parameter(s) on his user interface 4. Again, the further amended values for the adjustable parameters are effective immediately on the hearing device 2, 3 of the user 1 and preferably at the same time—or with just a short delay—visible for the fitter 5 on a display unit of the fitting system 6. The fitter 5 may supervise the parameter adjustments of the user 1 at any time and provides support via the connection 7. In case of an interruption of the connection 7 the settings, i.e. the values for the adjustable parameters, are restored by loading the last saved values. In such a situation, the user 1 or the fitter 5 must again setup the connection 7 to continue the fitting process.

(12) The method for fitting the hearing device 2, 3 is further explained in connection with a flow chart depicted in FIG. 2.

(13) The flow chart of FIG. 2 starts with an initialization that is usually triggered by the fitter 5 (FIG. 1) but may also be triggered by the user 1 (FIG. 1) of the hearing device 2, 3.

(14) After initialization, the step of setting up a connection 7 between the fitting system 6 and the hearing device 2, 3 and/or the user interface 4.

(15) Once the desired connection 7 is built up, the steps a) to f) representing one embodiment of the method according to the present invention can be carried out.

(16) In step a), adjustable parameters are defined in the fitting system 6 (FIG. 1). The adjustable parameters can be all parameters of the transfer function defining the behavior of the hearing device 2, 3 or can be a subset of the parameter of the transfer function.

(17) In step b), specifications are defined for the adjustable parameters. The specifications comprise at least one of: starting value/s for the adjustable parameter/s, allowed range/s for the adjustable parameter/s,

(18) The starting values for the adjustable parameters are a first guess of the parameter values by the fitter 5 based on his general knowledge and information of the user 1, in particular of his or her audiogram. In a follow-up fitting session, where the parameters are fine-tuned, the starting values could be the actual settings of the hearing device.

(19) The allowed ranges for the adjustable parameters are the ranges, within a corresponding adjustable parameter may be adjusted by the user 1. The adjustment by the user 1 is made via the user interface 4.

(20) The starting values and the allowed ranges for the adjustable parameters may also be fully or partially determined automatically based on the audiogram of the user.

(21) In step c), the parameters and the specifications are transferred to the hearing device 2, 3 or to the user interface 4. It is pointed out that in one embodiment of the present invention only adjustable parameters and its specifications are transferred to the hearing device 2, 3 or the user interface 4. In another embodiment of the present invention all parameters of the transfer function are transferred. This may be done in cases where the fitter 5 decides that another transfer function having another set of parameters must be used.

(22) In step d), the user 1 takes influence directly on the fitting process in that he or she adjusts at least some of the values of the adjustable parameters with the aid of the user interface 4. The adjustments made to the adjustable parameters must be within the specifications the fitter 5 has provided.

(23) In step e), the adjustments of the adjustable parameter values are transmitted to the fitting system 6 in order to allow the fitter 5 to follow up the adjustments made by the user 1. Therewith, the fitter 5 is up to date of any changes to the hearing device settings and may give advice immediately once the user 1 is not able to handle the adjustments. Furthermore, the fitter 5 may give further information as to how the transfer function will be influenced by adjusting a specific parameter. In addition, the fitter 5 may inform the user 1 of the sequence of parameter adjustments in order to obtain best results.

(24) In step f), the adjustable parameters that have been updated by the user 1 and have been sent to the fitting system 6 are transferred to the hearing device 2, 3 in order that the adjustments immediately become effective. It is pointed out that the steps d) and e) may be carried out at the same time or that step e) is carried out before step d).

(25) After the steps a) to f) have been carried out further adjustments to the transfer functions may be necessary because the user 1 and/or the fitter 5 came to the conclusion that an optimal adjustment has not been reached yet. In this case some or all of the steps a) to f) may be repeated in order to reach a still better setting.

(26) In a further embodiment of the present invention, an adjustment task is defined in the fitting system 6 by the fitter 5. The adjustment task is transmitted to the hearing device 2, 3 or to the user interface 4. The user is informed what kind of adjustments task will be dealt with. For example, adjustment tasks may be: maximize intelligibility; maximize pleasantness; adjust such that a particular sound is just barely audible.

(27) With this information, it is easier for the user to focus and to adjust only specified parameters. Again, the fitter 5 may guide the user 1 in addition to reach fast results.

(28) Furthermore, a sound environment can be determined or specified in the fitting system 6. Information reflecting the determined sound environment is transmitted to the user interface 4 that may activate a sound system in the vicinity of the user to create the specified sound environment. The sounds presented during the adjustment may be any of the following: the fitter speaking; the user speaking; recorded life scenes, such as traffic, concert, church, nature, birds or similar; artificial stimuli, such as pure tones, noise, wobble tones; a combination of recorded life scenes and/or other stimuli (sound parcours); an ISTS—(International Speech Test Signal).

(29) The parameter to be adjusted may be one of the following: volume, left/right balance, tonal balance, hearing program, a frequency compression parameter, a parameter related to a tinnitus masking signal.