METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEARING AID SYSTEM HAVING A HEARING INSTRUMENT, HEARING INSTRUMENT AND HEARING AID SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating a hearing aid system having a hearing instrument includes using at least one first sensor of the hearing aid system to detect an immediate danger situation arising for a wearer of the hearing aid system in road traffic. An electroacoustic output transducer of the hearing instrument is used to transmit a sound signal suitable for triggering an acoustic startle reflex in the wearer to a hearing aid. A hearing instrument and a hearing aid system are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hearing aid system having a hearing instrument, the method comprising: using at least one first sensor of the hearing aid system to detect an immediate danger situation arising for a wearer of the hearing aid system in road traffic; and using an electroacoustic output transducer of the hearing instrument to output a sound signal to the auditory system of the wearer suitable for triggering an acoustic startle reflex in the wearer.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises generating the sound signal supplied to the auditory canal of the wearer at a sound level of at least 80 dB and maximally 120 dB.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises generating the sound signal supplied to the auditory canal of the wearer at a sound level of at least 95 dB and maximally 120 dB.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises taking an individual hearing capacity of the wearer into account for a sound level of the sound signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: generating the sound signal at least over a frequency range of the audible spectrum; and generating the sound signal in the frequency range as white noise or as pink noise or as red noise.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises generating the sound signal as a sound pulse with a length of at least 10 ms and maximally 500 ms.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises applying a pause with a maximum length of 500 ms between the detection of the immediate danger situation and the generation of the sound signal, and using the acoustic instrument to minimize a sound supplied to the auditory canal of the wearer during the pause.

8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: using a second sensor of the hearing aid system to detect at least one of a body movement or a head movement of the wearer after detecting the immediate danger situation; based on the detected body movement or head movement, detecting whether a reaction movement of the wearer in response to the immediate danger situation has taken place; and inhibiting the output of the sound signal upon an occurrence of the reaction movement.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second sensor is an acceleration sensor.

10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: using the at least one first sensor to detect a danger situation arising for the wearer; after the detection of the danger situation, using the electroacoustic output transducer to first issue an acoustic warning signal to warn the wearer of the danger situation; using at least one second sensor of the hearing aid system to detect at least one of a body movement or a head movement of the wearer after outputting the acoustic warning signal; based on the detected body movement or head movement, detecting whether a reaction movement of the wearer to the acoustic warning signal has taken place; and only outputting the acoustic signal to trigger the acoustic startle reflex in the wearer when no reaction movement occurs in response to the acoustic warning signal, and using the at least one first sensor to identify the danger situation as an immediate danger situation for the wearer.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one second sensor is an acceleration sensor.

12. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises using at least one first sensor of the hearing instrument to detect the immediate danger situation.

13. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises using at least one first sensor or an additional sensor of an auxiliary device configured to be connected to the hearing instrument to detect the immediate danger situation.

14. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises after outputting the sound signal to the wearer, using a display of the auxiliary device or a display configured to be connected to the hearing instrument, to output an explanatory message.

15. A hearing instrument, comprising: an electroacoustic output transducer configured to transmit a sound signal to an auditory system of a wearer in response to an immediate danger situation registered by the hearing instrument and arising for a wearer of the hearing instrument, the sound signal being suitable for triggering an acoustic startle reflex in the wearer.

16. The hearing instrument according to claim 15, wherein the immediate danger situation is an immediate danger situation in road traffic.

17. The hearing instrument according to claim 15, which further comprises at least one first sensor configured for detecting the immediate danger situation.

18. A hearing aid system, comprising: a hearing instrument according to claim 15; and an auxiliary device configured to be connected to said hearing instrument; said auxiliary device including at least one first sensor or an additional sensor; said first sensor or said additional sensor configured to detect the immediate danger situation; and said auxiliary device configured to transmit corresponding information to said hearing instrument in an event of an immediate danger situation being detected by said first sensor or said additional sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] FIG. 1 includes three views taken along cross-sectional planes through a human nervous system and neural connections between the planes that become active in an ASR;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a hearing aid system with a hearing aid and a smartphone;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of a method for the hearing aid system according to FIG. 2, through the use of which a wearer of the hearing aid system can be protected in an immediate danger situation; and

[0043] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative sequence of the method according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which equivalent parts and dimensions are provided with identical reference signs, and first, particularly, to FIG. 2 thereof, there is seen a schematic block diagram of a hearing instrument 20, which in this case is configured as a hearing aid 22 for treating a hearing impairment of a wearer (not shown). However, in an alternative embodiment, not shown, the hearing instrument 20 may also be provided by another device constructed and configured to generate sound signals for a wearer without a specific correction of hearing impairment. The hearing aid 22 in this case has a microphone 24, which is used to generate an electrical input signal 26 from an ambient sound, which signal is processed in a signal processing unit 28 in accordance with the audiological requirements of the wearer, in particular being amplified and possibly compressed in a frequency-band specific manner. The signal processing unit 28 generates an electrical output signal 30 which is converted by an electroacoustic output transducer 32, in this case provided by a loudspeaker 34, into an output sound signal (not shown). The hearing aid 22 in this case is configured for a wireless connection 35 (e.g. by Bluetooth) to an auxiliary device 36, which is configured in this case as a smartwatch 38. As an alternative or additional auxiliary device (not shown) a smartphone, a fitness tracker or similar device can be used. The hearing instrument 20 and the auxiliary device 36 form a hearing aid system 40, which is described in further detail below.

[0045] The smartwatch 38 has a first sensor 42, which allows the environment of the wearer of the hearing aid system 40 to be analyzed for the presence of an immediate danger situation, e.g. in the form of a MV approaching the wearer, with which the wearer can be at risk of collision. The hearing aid 22 may also have such a first sensor 44, through the use of which an imminent collision with a vehicle or, more generally, an immediate danger situation can be detected, and which is preferably connected to the signal processing unit 28. If such an immediate danger situation for the wearer is detected, i.e. either by the first sensor 42 of the smartwatch 38 or by the first sensor 44 of the hearing aid 22, a sound signal 50 is output by the loudspeaker 34 in a manner still to be described, which is configured and, by using an appropriate volume level, also suitable for, inducing an ASR in the wearer of the hearing instrument 20.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the sequence of a method for the hearing aid system 40 according to FIG. 2. In step S1, an immediate danger situation 46 for the wearer is detected by using the first sensor 42 of the auxiliary device 36. Detection in this case includes in particular an evaluation of a sensor signal of the first sensor 42 for corresponding features that characterize the immediate danger situation 46. Upon detection of the immediate danger situation 46, the auxiliary device 36 immediately transmits corresponding information 48 over the connection 35 to the hearing instrument 20 in a step S1a, where the information 48 is used to register the presence of the immediate danger situation 46. The transmission of the information 48 to the hearing instrument in step S1a can be assumed to be virtually latency-free.

[0047] In step S2 the sound exposure of the auditory system of the wearer which is sonicated by the hearing instrument 20 is then first inhibited for a pause 49 of approximately 300 ms. This can be effected by simply muting the electroacoustic output transducer 32, or else by an ANC 49a if the environment has a high background noise level. The pause 49, during which the sound exposure of the auditory system is actively or passively inhibited in step S2, may also last for a shorter time (preferably at least 50 ms) or a longer time (but preferably a maximum of 500 ms).

[0048] Directly after the pause 49, an acoustic signal 50 is output immediately by the electroacoustic output transducer 32 in step S3. The sound signal 50 in this case is given by a sound pulse 51 with a duration of 75 ms and a sound level of 95 dB (SPL), and preferably has a spectrum of white noise or pink noise. Due to the very high sound level of the sound pulse 51, an ASR is generated in the wearer of the hearing instrument 20, which causes the wearer to react within approximately 10 ms and terminate their current movement.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of the sequence of a method which forms an arrangement that is alternative or additional to the one shown in FIG. 3. The hearing system 40 in the exemplary embodiment described with regard to FIG. 4 is formed by the hearing instrument 20 alone, which has the first sensor 44. If a—not immediate but only potential—danger situation 46a is detected in step S0 using the first sensor 44, in step S01 an acoustic warning 52 is first output to warn the wearer of the danger situation 46a. The acoustic warning 52 can be formed of a short whistling tone or an announcement. In the case of a whistling tone, the sound level is preferably well below 80 dB.

[0050] After step S01, a check is carried out in step S02 for a specified period of time on the order of approximately 1 to a maximum of 10 seconds using an acceleration and/or motion sensor (not shown) of the hearing instrument 20, to determine whether the wearer has reacted to the audible warning 52 and initiated a corresponding movement to avert the danger situation 46a. If this is not the case, i.e. if the acceleration and/or motion sensor does not detect any reaction movement of the wearer to the acoustic warning 52, then in step S1, similar to step S1 according to FIG. 3, using the first sensor 44, it is checked whether the danger situation 46a has now developed into an immediate danger situation 46. If this is the case, in step S3 a sound pulse 51 is output with the same characteristics as the sound pulse 51 according to FIG. 3, which is intended to induce an ASR in the wearer and configured accordingly. In addition, in the time prior to the sound pulse 51 a pause 49 can take place as in step S2 according to FIG. 3, during which the sound supplied to the auditory system of the wearer of the hearing instrument 20 is minimized passively or actively.

[0051] In a further alternative of the method according to FIG. 4, not shown, a reaction movement by the wearer can be detected, which is based on an independent detection of the immediate danger situation 46. This means that the immediate danger situation 46 is detected and then a check is made to determine whether an independent reaction movement (i.e. a termination of a movement that has been started or an active avoidance movement) is taking place. If this is not the case, the sound pulse which is intended to induce an ASR in the wearer is output.

[0052] The variants of the method shown on the basis of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 can be easily implemented, mutatis mutandis, for the other hearing aid system. The alternative according to FIG. 4 is more suitable for situations in which there is only a minimum scope for action with regard to the danger situation 46a, so that one might be able to afford to not immediately accept the risk to the hearing due to the sound pulse 51. The alternative according to FIG. 3, on the other hand, is preferably intended to be applied to the cases in which such a scope for action no longer exists, and without a corresponding change of movement or at least termination of movement, a collision would be expected to occur e.g. in fractions of a second. In this case, the risk to the hearing from the sound pulse 51 should be assessed as less than the risk to the wearer of the hearing instrument 20 from a collision with a motor vehicle. In particular, step S3 with the output of the sound pulse 51 can also be performed immediately upon detecting or registering the immediate danger situation 46 in step S1 (variant according to FIG. 4) or step S1a (variant according to FIG. 3). In this case, in particular, the pause 47 according to step S2 or the output of the acoustic warning 52 according to step S01 and the subsequent detection of a body movement according to step S02 (variant according to FIG. 4) are omitted.

[0053] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by using the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not restricted by the examples disclosed and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0054] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0055] 1 nervous system [0056] 2 brainstem [0057] 4 (upper) spinal cord [0058] 6 sound signal [0059] 8 cochlea [0060] 10 nerve impulses [0061] 12 giant neurons (in the caudal reticular core of the bridge) [0062] 14 motor neurons [0063] 20 hearing instrument [0064] 22 hearing aid [0065] 24 microphone [0066] 26 (electrical) input signal [0067] 28 signal processing unit [0068] 30 (electrical) output signal [0069] 32 electroacoustic output transducer [0070] 34 loudspeaker [0071] 35 (wireless) connection [0072] 36 auxiliary device [0073] 38 smartwatch [0074] 40 hearing aid system [0075] 42 first sensor (of auxiliary device) [0076] 44 first sensor (of hearing instrument) [0077] 46 immediate danger situation [0078] 48 information [0079] 49 pause [0080] 40a ANC [0081] 50 sound signal [0082] 51 sound pulse [0083] 52 acoustic warning [0084] CRN cochlear root neurons [0085] E1, E1, E3 sectional plane [0086] M muscle [0087] PNC caudal reticular core of the bridge [0088] S0-S02 method steps [0089] S1-S3 method steps [0090] S1a method step