METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING A HEARING DEVICE FROM A REMOTE LOCATION

1 . Method for testing a hearing device ( 1 ) located at a first location (L1), said hearing device ( 1 ) comprising a microphone ( 2 ) and a receiver ( 3 ) operationally connected to said microphone ( 2 ), said method comprising the steps of:

providing a test signal to a first loudspeaker ( 4 );

providing with said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) an input audio signal to said microphone ( 2 );

sensing with a second microphone ( 5 ) an output audio signal from said receiver ( 3 ) to provide a second microphone signal;

transmitting said second microphone signal from said first location (L1) to a second location (L2) distant from said first location (L1) via a communication network ( 6 ) to provide a received second microphone signal; and

providing said received second microphone signal to an individual ( 7 ) located at said second location (L2).

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of providing said test signal to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) comprises:

sensing with a third microphone ( 8 ) said individual's voice to provide a third microphone signal and transmitting said third microphone signal from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ).

3 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of providing said test signal to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) comprises at least one of the following steps:

generating with a test signal generator ( 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″) a generated test signal and optionally transmitting said generated test signal to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 );

retrieving from a test signal database ( 10 , 10 ′, 10 ″) a stored test signal and optionally transmitting said stored test signal to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ).

4 . Method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of arranging said hearing device ( 1 ) within a test enclosure ( 11 ), wherein said test enclosure ( 11 ) comprises said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) and said second microphone ( 5 ), and wherein said test enclosure ( 11 ) is adapted to receive said hearing device ( 1 ) such that sound emitted by said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) is substantially coupled to said microphone ( 2 ) and sound emitted by said receiver ( 3 ) is substantially coupled to said second microphone ( 5 ) when said hearing device ( 1 ) is arranged within said test enclosure ( 11 ).

5 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing device ( 1 ) further comprises an ear canal microphone ( 5 ′), said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′) being said second microphone ( 5 ), said method further comprising the step of applying a coupling means ( 12 ) to said receiver ( 3 ) and said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′), wherein said coupling means ( 12 ) is adapted to ensure effective coupling of said output audio signal from said receiver ( 3 ) to said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′).

6 . Method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

capturing an image of said hearing device ( 1 ) with a camera ( 13 );

transmitting said image from said first location (L1) to said second location (L2) via said communication network ( 6 ) to provide a received image; and

providing said received image to said individual ( 7 ).

7 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein said received second microphone signal is provided to said individual ( 7 ) by means of headphones ( 14 ).

8 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein said received second microphone signal is provided to said individual ( 7 ) by means of a stethoclip ( 15 ), said method further comprising the steps of:

applying said received second microphone signal to a second loudspeaker ( 16 ) located at said second location (L2); and

coupling said stethoclip ( 15 ) to said second loudspeaker ( 16 ).

9 . Method according to claim 7 , respectively, further comprising the step of:

calibrating said received second microphone signal such that a sound pressure level of a sound produced by said headphones ( 14 ) or by said stethoclip ( 15 ), respectively, at an ear drum of said individual ( 7 ) is substantially equal to a sound pressure level of a sound signal provided to said ear drum of said individual ( 7 ) when coupling said second microphone signal directly to said stethoclip ( 15 );

and/or if the step of providing said test signal to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) comprises sensing said individual's voice, said method further comprising the step of:

calibrating said input audio signal such that a sound pressure level of a sound produced by said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) is substantially equal to a sound pressure level of said individual's voice as sensed by said third microphone ( 8 ).

10 . System for testing a hearing device ( 1 ), said hearing device ( 1 ) comprising a microphone ( 2 ) and a receiver ( 3 ) operationally connected to said microphone ( 2 ), said system comprising:

means ( 8 , 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″, 10 , 10 ′, 10 ″) for generating a test signal;

a first loudspeaker ( 4 );

a second microphone ( 5 );

a first transmitter ( 17 );

a first communication receiver ( 18 ); and

means ( 14 , 15 ) for providing a received second microphone signal to an individual ( 7 );

wherein said means ( 8 , 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″, 10 , 10 ′, 10 ″) for generating said test signal are operationally connected to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) and said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) is operationally connectable to said microphone ( 2 ), and wherein said second microphone ( 5 ) is operationally connectable to said receiver ( 3 ) and said second microphone ( 5 ) is operationally connected to said first transmitter ( 17 ), and wherein said first transmitter ( 17 ) is operationally connectable to said first communication receiver ( 18 ) via a communication network ( 6 ), and wherein said first communication receiver ( 18 ) is operationally connected to said means ( 14 , 15 ) for providing said received second microphone signal to said individual ( 7 ).

11 . System according to claim 10 , wherein said means ( 8 , 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″, 10 , 10 ′, 10 ″) for generating a test signal comprise:

a third microphone ( 8 ) for sensing said individual's voice to provide a third microphone signal;

a second transmitter ( 19 ) operationally connected to said third microphone ( 8 ) for transmitting said third microphone signal from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ); and

a second communication receiver ( 20 ) operationally connected to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) for receiving a transmitted third microphone signal as said test signal;

and/or wherein said means for generating a test signal comprise:

a test signal generator ( 9 ″) for generating a generated test signal, said means for generating a test signal optionally further comprising:

a second transmitter ( 19 ) operationally connected to said test signal generator ( 9 ) for transmitting said generated test signal from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ), or a third transmitter ( 19 ′) operationally connected to said test signal generator ( 9 ′) for transmitting said generated test signal from a third location (L3) being distant from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ); and

a second communication receiver ( 20 ) operationally connected to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) for receiving the transmitted generated test signal;

and/or wherein said means for generating a test signal comprise:

a test signal database ( 10 ″) comprising at least one stored test signal, said means for generating a test signal optionally further comprising:

a second transmitter ( 19 ) operationally connected to said test signal database ( 10 ) for transmitting a stored test signal from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ), or a third transmitter ( 19 ′) operationally connected to said test signal database ( 10 ′) for transmitting a stored test signal from a third location (L3) being distant from said second location (L2) to said first location (L1) via said communication network ( 6 ); and

a second communication receiver ( 20 ) operationally connected to said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) for receiving the transmitted stored test signal.

12 . System according to claim 10 , further comprising:

first sound coupling means adapted to substantially couple said input audio signal from said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) to said microphone ( 2 ); and

second sound coupling means adapted to substantially couple said output audio signal from said receiver ( 3 ) to said second microphone ( 5 ).

13 . System according to claim 10 , further comprising a test enclosure ( 11 ) comprising said first loudspeaker ( 4 ), said second microphone ( 5 ), and hearing device receiving means adapted to receive said hearing device ( 1 ) such that sound emitted by said first loudspeaker ( 4 ) is substantially coupled to said microphone ( 2 ) and sound emitted by said receiver ( 3 ) is substantially coupled to said second microphone ( 5 ) when said hearing device ( 1 ) is arranged within said test enclosure ( 11 ).

14 . System according to claim 10 , wherein said second microphone ( 5 ) is not comprised in said system, and wherein said hearing device ( 1 ) further comprises an ear canal microphone ( 5 ′), said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′) being said second microphone ( 5 ), and wherein said system further comprises a coupling means ( 12 ) adapted to be applied at said receiver ( 3 ) and said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′), wherein said coupling means ( 12 ) is further adapted to ensure effective coupling of said output audio signal from said receiver ( 3 ) to said ear canal microphone ( 5 ′).

15 . System according to claim 10 , further comprising a camera ( 13 ) for capturing an image of said hearing device ( 1 ), said camera ( 13 ) being operationally connectable to said communication network ( 6 ) for transmitting said image from said first location (L1) to said second location (L2), and optionally said camera ( 13 ) being part of said test enclosure ( 11 ).