IP Library Granted Patent US 9,204,226
Granted Patent B2
US 9,204,226 · App. 13/820,794 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Method for adjusting a hearing device as well as an arrangement for adjusting a hearing device

Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz (Hombrechtikon, CH); Patrick Baechler (Gutenswil, CH); Philipp Schneider (Zurich, CH); Nicola Schmitt (Stafa, CH)
Assignee: SONOVA AG
H04R25/30H04R25/70H04R2225/43
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,204,226
App. No.
13/820,794
Granted
Dec 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for adjusting a hearing device ( 1 ) to individual needs of a hearing device user includes the steps of operationally connecting the hearing device ( 1 ) to a fitting device ( 5 ) with a display unit ( 6 ), displaying a hearing threshold level ( 22 ) of the hearing device user as a function of frequencies on the display unit ( 6 ), displaying characteristics of a predefined sound sample ( 25, 30 ) on the display unit ( 6 ), and adjusting the input/output behavior such that at least a part of the predefined sound sample ( 25, 30 ) lies above the hearing threshold level ( 22 ) at corresponding frequencies. An arrangement for adjusting a hearing device ( 1 ) is also provided.

Claims (57)

1. A method for adjusting a hearing device to individual needs of a hearing device user, the method comprising steps of:

operationally connecting the hearing device to a fitting device comprising a display unit,

displaying a hearing threshold level of the hearing device user as a function of frequencies on the display unit,

displaying characteristics of a predefined sound sample on the display unit, and

adjusting the input/output behavior such that at least a part of the predefined sound sample lies above the hearing threshold level at corresponding frequencies,

wherein the hearing device comprises:

an input transducer,

an output transducer, and

a signal processing unit operatively connected to both the input transducer and to the output transducer, said signal processing unit defining an input/output behavior of the hearing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of

the hearing threshold level as a function of frequencies,

an uncomfortable level,

the characteristics of the predefined sound sample after having adjusted the input/output behavior,

are displayed in a single graph on the display unit.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a step of representing the predefined sound sample in colors according to loudness indications.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of selecting a frequency band, in which the input/output behavior is adjusted.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of presenting the predefined sound sample after the step of adjusting the input/output behavior.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising steps of:

measuring an output signal of the output transducer, and

representing the measured output signal on the display unit.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of indicating directions how to adjust the input/output behavior for a selected predefined sound sample.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein predefined sound samples comprise frequency sections, which are particularly important for good speech intelligibility.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein predefined sound samples are at least one of or a synthetically generated equivalent of the following:

spoken high “s”;

spoken low “s”;

spoken “sch”;

spoken “f”;

spoken voiced consonants “m”, “n”, “l”; and

spoken vowels “a”, “e”, “u”.

10. An arrangement for adjusting a hearing device to individual needs of a hearing device user, the arrangement comprising:

a fitting device comprising a display unit,

the hearing device comprising an input transducer, a signal processing unit and an output transducer, the signal processing unit being operatively connected to the input transducer as well as to the output transducer, and the signal processing unit defining an input/output behavior of the hearing device,

means for operationally connecting the hearing device to the fitting device,

means for displaying a hearing threshold level of the hearing device user as a function of frequencies on the display unit,

means for displaying characteristics of a predefined sound sample on the display unit, and

means for adjusting the input/output behavior such that at least a part of the predefined sound sample lies above the hearing threshold level at corresponding frequencies.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein at least two of

the hearing threshold level as a function of frequencies,

an uncomfortable level,

the characteristics of the predefined sound sample,

the predefined sound sample after having adjusted the input/output behavior,

are displayed in a single graph on the display unit.

12. The arrangement of claim 10 or 11 , further comprising means for representing the predefined sound sample in colors according to loudness indications.

13. The arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising means for selecting a frequency band, in which the input/output behavior is adjusted.

14. The arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising means for presenting the predefined sound sample after the input/output behavior has been adjusted.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 , further comprising:

means for measuring an output signal of the output transducer, and

means for representing the measured output signal on the display.

16. The arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising means for indicating directions how to adjust the input/output behavior for a selected predefined sound.

17. The arrangement of claim 10 , wherein predefined sound samples comprise frequency sections, which are particularly important for good speech intelligibility.

18. The arrangement of claim 17 , wherein predefined sound samples are at least one of or a synthetically generated equivalent of the following:

spoken high “s”;

spoken low “s”;

spoken “sch”;

spoken “f”;

spoken voiced consonants “m”, “n”, “l”; and

spoken vowels “a”, “e”, “u”.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 13/115,151 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 036377 FRAME: 0528. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Sep 5, 2015
From: PHONAK AG
To: SONOVA AG
Reel/Frame 036561/0837 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2015
From: PHONAK AG
To: SONOVA AG
Reel/Frame 036422/0392 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2015
From: PHONAK AG
To: SONOVA AG
Reel/Frame 036377/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: SIGWANZ, ULLRICH; BAECHLER, PATRICK; SCHNEIDER, PHILIPP; SCHMITT, NICOLA
To: PHONAK AG
Reel/Frame 032476/0098 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130170661A1 · Jul 4, 2013