EP2026607A1 - Individually adjustable hearing aid and method for its operation - Google Patents
Individually adjustable hearing aid and method for its operation Download PDFInfo
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- EP2026607A1 EP2026607A1 EP08104788A EP08104788A EP2026607A1 EP 2026607 A1 EP2026607 A1 EP 2026607A1 EP 08104788 A EP08104788 A EP 08104788A EP 08104788 A EP08104788 A EP 08104788A EP 2026607 A1 EP2026607 A1 EP 2026607A1
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- effectiveness
- hearing
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- hearing aid
- adjustment
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/30—Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
- H04R25/305—Self-monitoring or self-testing
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2225/39—Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2225/41—Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
Definitions
- the invention relates to an individually adjustable hearing aid, in particular with individually adjustable noise suppression, and a method for its operation.
- Hearing aids are used primarily to allow hearing-impaired patients the most natural hearing and to compensate in this regard usually medically-related disorders of the hearing organs. This should be done as comfortably as possible and without significant impairment of the hearing aid wearer. Accordingly, in the functional spectrum of hearing aids simple sound-pressure-amplifying devices and / or prosthetic devices for the prosthetic support of stimulus generation can be contained in the interior of the ear. Regardless of the embodiment, the hearing aid used will always have the task to implement applied sound pressure in hearing stimuli of the hearing aid wearer, which would also occur in physiologically and anatomically intact hearing organs. To meet these requirements, numerous subjective circumstances of the respective hearing aid wearer must be included, which may result from the individual nature of his hearing impairment, but also from the selectivity of his perception.
- Modern hearing aids therefore make it possible to set a multiplicity of parameters which have an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing device used.
- the setting of these parameters is usually made by the manufacturer in the form of a basic setting, which can then be adjusted in one or more sessions with a hearing care professional on the patient in the form of a fine adjustment. It goes without saying that such a fine tuning associated with a considerable effort for the patient and the hearing healthcare professional involved and at least for the patient can mean a significant loss of comfort.
- the adjustability of relevant parameters must be technically prepared, which often requires an acoustic laboratory at least in the conception phase and can only take place under simulated conditions.
- a good adaptation to actual listening situations, especially in comfortable hearing aids partly with the adaptation of numerous technical parameters associated, which can either require a lengthy search for optimal parameters and / or the technical knowledge of a layman, especially what the selection of a particular Listening situation relevant parameters and / or algorithms may be overwhelmed.
- the object of the invention is to specify a possibility of being able to set a hearing device simply and reliably, in particular if an adaptation of complicated signal processing algorithms to a specific hearing situation is to take place.
- the core of the invention consists in offering only a few parameters or only one parameter when adjusting a hearing device, which can be varied in a specific hearing situation.
- only a few or one actuating element are to be actuated by the person who is to undertake the adaptation of the hearing device to the relevant hearing situation, in particular the hearing device wearer himself in a normal everyday situation.
- the functional scope of the hearing aid is not limited thereby. This is achieved in that for the adjustment of the hearing aid provided control elements are each associated with such circuit arrangements, via which a variation of exactly the parameters is possible, their change in the relevant hearing situation and / or taking into account the current settings of the adjustable parameters of the hearing aid has a particularly strong influence on the transmission and / or amplification properties of the hearing aid.
- Parameters are all sizes, for which in principle an adjustability provided in at least some listening situations is that can have an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid. This may include parameter sets which are integrated in the form of parameter ensembles which can not be set independently of one another in signal processing algorithms such as those used for noise suppression. Under transmission and / or amplification properties of the hearing aid in the present context, all properties of the hearing aid to understand that can be adjusted by actuators or other technical means to a hearing situation and / or a customer request for acoustic and / or selective properties of the hearing aid.
- the invention makes use of a determination or estimation of an effectiveness of an adjustment to be made in order to offer this adjustment option to a hearing device user as a function of this effectiveness.
- the effectiveness of the adjustment of a parameter or an algorithm requires at least a qualified change between the input and the output signal of this algorithm or a dependence of this change on the selected setting. In general, any comparison between the input and output signals of an algorithm can serve as a measure of its effectiveness.
- At least one adjustable hearing aid is required, on which at least one parameter which has an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid can be adjusted, wherein means are included which test the effectiveness of an adjustment of this parameter in the each existing hearing situation, and means are included, which enable the adjustment of this parameter in the presence of a minimum effectiveness.
- the activation of the adjustment possibility comprises the circuitry connection of the adjustable parameter with a variably assignable control element.
- the settings are made in this case stepwise and successively, with a continuous improvement of the adjustment of the hearing aid to the prevailing listening situation, a deterioration of the adjustment by making erroneous settings, however, is largely excluded.
- This makes it easier to find situation-dependent settings for different algorithms, in particular for algorithms for noise suppression, which are optimally adapted to the individual needs of the hearing device wearer in the respective hearing situation.
- the hearing aid wearer is given the opportunity in this case to adapt the effect of the noise suppression of his preference in the current environmental situation by means of the user interface according to the invention, without having to deal in detail with the mode of operation of the various algorithms and having to make a selection decision.
- the adjustments made or the set values of the adjustable parameters are logged.
- This logging can be used to allow the hearing aid via a learning algorithm, a continuous improvement of an automatic adjustment of the hearing aid to changing listening situations and preferences of the hearing aid wearer.
- adjustable parameters which have an influence on the transmission and / or amplification characteristics of the hearing aid, initially set to initial values belonging to this hearing situation and then adjusted after a test of the hearing Effectiveness of the adjustments made in the existing hearing situation and the availability of parameters, which are characterized by a minimum effectiveness, were released in the presence of a minimum effectiveness.
- the adaptation of the parameters can take place both instantaneously and temporally smoothed.
- the result of this learning process is stored in the hearing aid and is available after switching it off and on again. As a result, a continuous adjustment to the user-preferred setting is possible until an optimal approach is reached and no further change appears necessary.
- the invention offers a number of advantages. On the one hand, hearing aids in complicated listening situations, which are difficult to assess by laypersons, can be tailored in a simple manner to the user's needs in a targeted manner. In hard-to-assess listening situations, the invention can even open up the possibility of having a hearing aid set faultlessly by a layman preferably the hearing aid wearer.
- the hearing aid is thereby inevitably set depending on the situation, since only parameters whose influence is evaluated as audible are adjusted. Other parameters remain on the existing values, which can be offered in the form of presets, for example, which reduces the risk of incorrect settings.
- the adjustment of the hearing aid can also be used in complex listening situations via a simple inter-face, for example, in the form of a single one-dimensional actuator.
- Such a control element may consist of a simple rotary control or include plus / minus buttons, for example on a communicating with the hearing aid remote control.
- An advantage of the invention is that even used learning algorithms only have an influence on parameters which are evaluated as being effective and therefore adjustable in a specific hearing situation, which makes it easier to avoid incorrect parameter specifications in certain listening situations.
- no algorithms for noise suppression can be changed inadvertently, which remain ineffective in this hearing situation.
- Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a hearing aid according to the invention.
- This comprises a signal transmission path consisting of an input unit 1 in the form of a microphone, a signal processing and / or amplification unit 2 and an output unit 3 in the form of a loudspeaker.
- Signals incoming to the microphone can be forwarded in a predetermined manner, for example non-linearly, to the output unit 3 in an amplified manner.
- further signal processing units 4, 5, 6, 7 are included, in which incoming signals can be changed by a specific algorithm, before they are again fed to the signal processing and / or amplification unit 2 and fed into the signal applied to the output unit 3.
- the further signal processing units 4, 5, 6, 7 can be applied in terms of hardware, be implemented separately or as part of the signal processing and / or amplification unit 2 and / or exist only in the provision of a corresponding signal processing software. This can be disregarded for the functioning of the hearing aid according to the invention.
- the different algorithms in the signal processing units 4, 5, 6, 7 may include, for example, algorithms for noise suppression, but also all other forms of signal processing, which are aimed at in hearing aids concern. In order to be able to influence the effectiveness of the contained algorithms, positioning possibilities are created by means of which one or more parameters on which the effectiveness of the respective algorithm depends can be varied.
- a linking element 8 is included, which can make a connection of individual signal processing units 4, 5, 6 or 7 with an actuating element 9.
- This linking takes place after an evaluation of the effectiveness of the algorithms acting in the respective signal processing units 4, 5, 6 and 7 in a specific hearing situation and in dependence thereon.
- the linking element 8 comprises those for evaluating the effectiveness the means required in the respective signal processing units 4, 5, 6 and 7.
- the determination of the effectiveness can be done in different ways.
- a recognized or classified hearing situation which can always be described by specific spectra
- different models which describe the effect of the parameters and / or algorithms to be set, their effect or the effect of an adjustment thereof on the amplification and to simulate transmission characteristics of the hearing device in the recognized or classified hearing situation and to calculate the effectiveness in the sense of the invention by comparing the simulated input signals and the simulated output signals, for example.
- good results can already be achieved in this way.
- a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention results when, instead of a classification attempt, real-time detection of the applied auditory situation takes place and applied to input variables of various models which describe the effect of the parameters and / or algorithms to be set.
- the effect of these parameters and / or algorithms or the effect of an adjustment thereof on the amplification and transmission characteristic of the hearing aid in the actually detected or measured hearing situation can be simulated and, for example, by comparing the simulated input signals and the simulated output signals, the effectiveness in terms of the invention can be calculated.
- a comparison of the actual hearing situation with different already classified hearing situations can be dispensed with, which avoids the majority of problems with regard to the recognition accuracy in the assignment of auditory situations.
- the method according to the invention can be carried out completely independently of the quality of mathematical models if, instead of a simulated effect of the parameters to be tested, an actual determination of the change in an incoming signal by an algorithm to be set is made in a specific auditory situation. In this way, a particularly accurate determination of the effectiveness of a parameter and / or algorithm for signal processing can be realized.
- a direct detection of the effectiveness of an algorithm in a particular hearing situation can be given priority at least when it is concluded from a determined effectiveness at the same time on the required effectiveness of a parameter adjustment to be made, this algorithm to release this adjustment by linking the invention with an actuator. If, on the other hand, the effectiveness of an adjustment to be made is to be determined, since the effectiveness of an algorithm in a specific hearing situation and setting is not regarded as an indication of an effectiveness of the adjustment itself, model-based methods, as described above, are to be used advantageously.
- the individual aspects of determining the effectiveness of an adjustment or adjustment of a parameter or algorithm can advantageously be combined with one another. For example, a direct assessment of the effectiveness of an algorithm in a given listening situation can be made with a classification system for classifying Hearing situations are combined, whereby actually determined efficiencies of adjustment are linked to the classified hearing in each case.
- the determination of the effectiveness can take place both event-bound at the moment of a user input, as well as continuously over the period before or after the user input.
- Fig. 2 shows a section of a program flowchart for the description of the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention.
- the determination of the effectiveness of an algorithm Alg 1 contained in a signal processing unit 4 in a specific hearing situation is shown schematically.
- an input signal which is supplied to this signal processing unit 4, simultaneously a comparison unit 10 is supplied, in which a comparison of this input signal with the output signal of the signal processing unit 4 is made after it has been subjected to the algorithm Alg 1 .
- a parameter W Alg1 is derived, which allows a quantitative and / or qualitative estimation of the effectiveness of the algorithm Alg 1 in the respective auditory situation.
- the parameter referred to as effectiveness in the present invention may include any quantitatively detectable parameter that allows for a clear description of the effect that a particular algorithm has on an incoming signal during signal processing.
- effectiveness for example, the average gain reduction of a channel in a defined period of time, for example 1 minute, may serve before or after a user input. Alternatively or additionally, however, instantaneous values can also be evaluated in real time.
- the assignment of a specific efficacy parameter to an algorithm to be traversed by an input signal in a given auditory situation constitutes a core area of the present invention.
- the illustrated sequence of program steps can be integrated one or more times in program sequences which are suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, wherein in the comparison operations both directly measured or applied as well as in the manner shown model-based input and output signals can be included.
- the determination of the effectiveness of signal processing algorithms and dependent blocking or release of corresponding adjustment options can also be used advantageously for the application of learning algorithms.
- intelligent noise suppression this means that only the components of the noise reduction that inevitably affect the signal in the respective situation in accordance with the estimated effectiveness are taken into account by the respective learning algorithm. For example, if there is a windless situation, the wind noise reduction algorithm will not affect the signal and is therefore ineffective. Also, adjustments to the algorithm for wind noise reduction are ineffective and can not be varied according to the invention. Therefore, the learned or instantaneous setting of the wind noise reduction is left unchanged in this concrete situation.
- Fig. 3 shows a further detail of a program flowchart for describing the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention.
- An incoming signal passes sequentially through two different algorithms, for example two algorithms for noise suppression.
- Parallel to the signal processing in the signal processing units 4, 5 is already in Fig. 2 described determination of the effectiveness of the individual algorithms made in a prevailing listening situation by an off / on comparison.
- This makes it possible to determine the algorithm Alg x , which is characterized in the hearing situation by the greatest effectiveness W Algx .
- This algorithm is then connected by linking the corresponding signal processing unit with an actuator 9 is released for further adaptation to the respective hearing situation, whereby the corresponding adaptation by a change of parameters which influence the operation of the algorithm W Algx can be made.
- Fig. 4 shows a further detail of a program flowchart for describing the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention.
- the effectiveness of an adjustment of the actuating element is checked before the adjustment is actually released.
- a preferably discretely adjustable parameter of an algorithm for signal processing is adjusted in order to increase or decrease the effectiveness of the algorithm which can be influenced in this way. Together with an unchanged setting, it is checked by an off / on comparison to be made whether or not an adjustment of the relevant parameter brings about an effect, which corresponds to the check as to whether this adjustment is associated with a minimum effectiveness.
- the settings to be checked can actually be made and reset and blocked if their effectiveness is too low.
- the settings to be tested can be simulated.
- the method according to the invention consists in this particularly advantageous case in that a quantitative determination of the effectiveness of potential adjustments of parameters in an existing hearing situation is made and at least one control element is linked with circuitry arrangements such that the adjustment is always carried out with each actuation of the control element 9, which shows the greatest effectiveness in this operation of the control element at the moment of adjustment. This results in the maximum achievable simplification of the setting of a hearing aid and reducing the number of required control elements.
- individual variably assignable control elements can be provided for setting for intuitively linked groups of parameters or signal processing algorithms.
- a variably assignable actuator for the inventive adjustment of all noise reduction algorithms that are integrated into a hearing aid be provided.
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Abstract
Die Erfindung betrifft ein einstellbares Hörgerät, an dem mindestens ein Parameter, der einen Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und Verstärkungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes hat, verstellt werden kann, wobei Mittel (8) umfasst sind, die eine Prüfung der Wirksamkeit einer Verstellung dieses Parameters in der jeweils bestehenden Hörsituation vornehmen, und Mittel (8) umfasst sind, die bei Vorliegen einer Mindestwirksamkeit die Verstellmöglichkeit dieses Parameters freischalten. The invention relates to an adjustable hearing aid, on which at least one parameter which has an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid can be adjusted, wherein means (8) are included, which include an examination of the effectiveness of an adjustment of this parameter in the respective existing hearing, and means (8) are included, which enable the adjustment of this parameter in the presence of a minimum effectiveness.
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft ein individuell einstellbares Hörgerät, insbesondere mit individuell einstellbarer Störgeräuschunterdrückung, sowie ein Verfahren zu seinem Betrieb.The invention relates to an individually adjustable hearing aid, in particular with individually adjustable noise suppression, and a method for its operation.
Hörgeräte dienen in erster Linie dazu, hörgeschädigten Patienten ein möglichst natürliches Hörempfinden zu ermöglichen und diesbezüglich in der Regel medizinisch bedingte Funktionsstörungen der Hörorgane zu kompensieren. Dies soll möglichst komfortabel und ohne nennenswerte Beeinträchtigungen des Hörgeräteträgers erfolgen. Im Funktionsspektrum von Hörgeräten können dementsprechend einfache schalldruckverstärkende Einrichtungen und/oder prothetische Einrichtungen zur prothetischen Unterstützung der Reizgenerierung im Inneren des Ohres enthalten sein. Unabhängig von der Ausführungsform wird das eingesetzte Hörgerät stets die Aufgabe haben, anliegenden Schalldruck in Hörreize des Hörgeräteträgers umzusetzen, die auch bei physiologisch und anatomisch intakten Hörorganen auftreten würden. Um diesen Anforderungen zu genügen, sind zahlreiche subjektive Gegebenheiten des jeweiligen Hörgeräteträgers einzubeziehen, die aus der individuellen Beschaffenheit seiner Hörstörung, aber auch aus der Selektivität seiner Wahrnehmung resultieren können.Hearing aids are used primarily to allow hearing-impaired patients the most natural hearing and to compensate in this regard usually medically-related disorders of the hearing organs. This should be done as comfortably as possible and without significant impairment of the hearing aid wearer. Accordingly, in the functional spectrum of hearing aids simple sound-pressure-amplifying devices and / or prosthetic devices for the prosthetic support of stimulus generation can be contained in the interior of the ear. Regardless of the embodiment, the hearing aid used will always have the task to implement applied sound pressure in hearing stimuli of the hearing aid wearer, which would also occur in physiologically and anatomically intact hearing organs. To meet these requirements, numerous subjective circumstances of the respective hearing aid wearer must be included, which may result from the individual nature of his hearing impairment, but also from the selectivity of his perception.
Moderne Hörgeräte erlauben es daher, eine Vielzahl von Parametern einzustellen, die Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- sowie Verstärkungscharakteristik des eingesetzten Hörgerätes haben. Die Einstellung dieser Parameter erfolgt in der Regel herstellerseitig in Form einer Grundeinstellung, die anschließend in einer oder mehreren Sitzungen bei einem Hörgeräteakustiker am Patienten in Form einer Feineinstellung angepasst werden können. Es versteht sich von selbst, dass eine derartige Feinabstimmung mit einem erheblichen Aufwand für den Patienten sowie den beteiligten Hörgeräteakustiker verbunden ist und zumindest für den Patienten einen erheblichen Komfortverlust bedeuten kann.Modern hearing aids therefore make it possible to set a multiplicity of parameters which have an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing device used. The setting of these parameters is usually made by the manufacturer in the form of a basic setting, which can then be adjusted in one or more sessions with a hearing care professional on the patient in the form of a fine adjustment. It goes without saying that such a fine tuning associated with a considerable effort for the patient and the hearing healthcare professional involved and at least for the patient can mean a significant loss of comfort.
Die angesprochene Problematik gilt in besonderem Maße, wenn die einzelnen einstellbaren Parameter gleichzeitig die Eingangsgrößen komplexer Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmen bilden, die wiederum Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- sowie Verstärkungscharakteristik des eingesetzten Hörgerätes haben. In moderne Hörgeräte können mehrere solcher Algorithmen, beispielsweise zur Unterdrückung von Störgeräuschen und Hervorhebung gewünschter Schallquellen, impliziert sein. Beispiele sind (adaptive) Richtmikrofone, Algorithmen zur Dämpfung von Nichtsprachanteilen, zur schnellen spektralen Störgeräuschschätzung/Wiener Filterung, zur Windgeräuschunterdrückung oder signalhüllkurvenbasierten Unterdrückung transienter Störschalle, um nur einige zu nennen. Die potentielle Wirkungsstärke dieser Algorithmen ist in der Regel jeweils über verschiedene Parameter einstellbar, die tatsächliche Wirkung hängt außer von dieser Parametrierung auch vom anliegenden Schalleingangssignal und der hierdurch repräsentierten Hörsituation ab. Die Parametrierung verschiedener Störgeräuschereduktionsalgorithmen wird bislang ebenfalls statisch bei der Anpassung des Hörgerätes bei einem Hörgeräteakustiker vorgenommen. Hierbei werden, ausgehend von einer herstellerseitig festgelegten Voreinstellung, manuell Einstellungsveränderungen durch den Akustiker vorgenommen. Eine derartige Feinanpassung kann in mehreren Schritten erfolgen und ist ebenfalls relativ aufwendig. Weiterhin ist die Entscheidung, welche Parameter welches Algorithmus angepasst werden sollen, unter Laborbedingungen sehr schwierig zu treffen, da sich die subjektiven Anforderungen des Hörgeräteträgers häufig erst in realen Hörsituationen zeigen.The problem addressed is particularly true when the individual adjustable parameters simultaneously form the input variables of complex signal processing algorithms, which in turn have an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid used. In modern hearing aids several such algorithms, for example for the suppression of noise and highlighting desired sound sources, may be implied. Examples are (adaptive) directional microphones, algorithms for attenuation of non-speech components, for fast spectral noise estimation / Wiener filtering, for wind noise suppression or signal envelope curve-based suppression of transient noise, just to name a few. The potential effectiveness of these algorithms can usually be set via various parameters, the actual effect depends not only on this parameterization but also on the adjacent sound input signal and the hearing situation represented thereby. The parameterization of various noise reduction algorithms is so far also made statically in the adaptation of the hearing aid at a hearing care professional. In this case, starting from a factory-set default setting changes manually made by the acoustician. Such a fine adjustment can be done in several steps and is also relatively expensive. Furthermore, the decision as to which parameters should be adapted which algorithm, under laboratory conditions is very difficult to make, since the subjective requirements of the hearing aid wearer often only show in real listening situations.
Es sind verschiedene Möglichkeiten bekannt, zumindest einen Teil der Anpassung und/oder Feinabstimmung des Hörgerätes unabhängig von einem Hörgeräteakustiker vornehmen zu können, was im Idealfall durch den Hörgeräteträger/Patienten selbst erfolgt. Eine derartige nachträgliche Anpassung eines Hörgerätes ist jedoch derzeit nur in begrenztem Umfang möglich.There are various ways known to be able to make at least part of the adjustment and / or fine-tuning of the hearing aid independently of a hearing aid acoustician, which is done in the ideal case by the hearing aid wearer / patient himself. However, such a subsequent adaptation of a hearing aid is currently possible only to a limited extent.
Einerseits muss die Einstellbarkeit relevanter Parameter technisch vorbereitet sein, was zumindest in der Konzeptionsphase häufig ein Akustiklabor erfordert und nur unter simulierten Bedingungen erfolgen kann. Andererseits ist eine gute Anpassung an tatsächliche Hörsituationen, insbesondere bei komfortablen Hörgeräten, teilweise mit der Anpassung zahlreicher technischer Parameter verbunden, was entweder eine langwierige Suche nach optimalen Parametern bedingen kann und/oder das technische Wissen eines Laien, insbesondere was die Auswahl der in einer bestimmten Hörsituation relevanten Parameter und/oder Algorithmen angeht, möglicherweise überfordert.On the one hand, the adjustability of relevant parameters must be technically prepared, which often requires an acoustic laboratory at least in the conception phase and can only take place under simulated conditions. On the other hand, a good adaptation to actual listening situations, especially in comfortable hearing aids, partly with the adaptation of numerous technical parameters associated, which can either require a lengthy search for optimal parameters and / or the technical knowledge of a layman, especially what the selection of a particular Listening situation relevant parameters and / or algorithms may be overwhelmed.
Es ist bekannt, den Aufwand zur externen Anpassung/ Feinabstimmung eines Hörgerätes dadurch zu reduzieren, dass eine tatsächliche Hörsituation klassifiziert wird, was die anschließende Zuordnung der klassifizierten Hörsituation zu mehreren hinterlegten Datensätzen mit voreingestellten Parametern ermöglicht. Interaktiv erfolgt in diesem Fall nur noch die Auswahl des am besten zu der jeweiligen Hörsituation passenden Parametersatzes (
Es ist weiterhin bekannt, ausgehend von hinterlegten voreingestellten Parametern und der Klassifikation einer bestimmten Hörsituation Parametersätze anzubieten, die automatisch variiert werden, nachdem sie vom Hörgeräteträger abgewählt worden sind (
Es ist weiterhin bekannt, Abfolgen von Programmschritten, die zur Anpassung eines Hörgerätes an bestimmte Hörsituationen erforderlich sind, in so genannten Makros zusammenzufassen, um deren Wiederholung zu erleichtern (
Es ist weiterhin bekannt, ausgehend von hinterlegten voreingestellten Parametern und der Klassifikation einer bestimmten Hörsituation Parametersätze anzubieten, die vom Hörgeräteträger variiert und anschließend gespeichert und der klassifizierten Hörsituation zugeordnet werden (
Aus der Patentschrift
Die Aufgabe der Erfindung besteht darin, eine Möglichkeit anzugeben, ein Hörgerät einfach und sicher einstellen zu können, insbesondere wenn eine Anpassung komplizierter Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmen an eine konkrete Hörsituation erfolgen soll.The object of the invention is to specify a possibility of being able to set a hearing device simply and reliably, in particular if an adaptation of complicated signal processing algorithms to a specific hearing situation is to take place.
Gelöst wird diese Aufgabe durch ein einstellbares Hörgerät mit den Merkmalen von Anspruch 1. Die Ansprüche 2 bis 9 geben vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen eines derartigen Hörgerätes an. Anspruch 10 betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines derartigen Hörgerätes, die Ansprüche 11 bis 16 betreffen vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen dieses Verfahrens.This object is achieved by an adjustable hearing aid with the features of
Der Kern der Erfindung besteht darin, bei einer Anpassung eines Hörgerätes nur wenige oder nur einen Parameter anzubieten, die in einer bestimmten Hörsituation variiert werden können. Dazu sind von der Person, welche die Anpassung des Hörgerätes an die betreffende Hörsituation vornehmen soll, insbesondere der Hörgeräteträger selbst in einer normalen Alltagssituation nur wenige oder ein Stellelement zu betätigen. Der Funktionsumfang des Hörgerätes wird dadurch jedoch nicht eingeschränkt. Das wird dadurch erreicht, dass für die Anpassung des Hörgerätes vorgesehene Stellelemente jeweils mit solchen schaltungstechnischen Anordnungen verknüpft werden, über die eine Variation genau der Parameter möglich ist, deren Änderung in der betreffenden Hörsituation und/oder unter Berücksichtigung der aktuellen Einstellungen der einstellbaren Parameter des Hörgerätes einen besonders starken Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und/oder Verstärkungseigenschaften des Hörgerätes hat. Die Möglichkeit der Verstellung anderer Parameter kann dadurch temporär entfallen, durch eine Änderung der Verknüpfung der Stellelemente jedoch erneut hergestellt werden, wenn sich eine Hörsituation ergibt, in der sich die Zweckmäßigkeit oder Notwendigkeit der Variation eines oder mehrerer Parameter ergibt, die zuvor nicht für eine derartige Variation angeboten wurden. Eine Änderung der Verknüpfung der Stellelemente kann entsprechend der Erfindung somit auch dann erfolgen, wenn durch die Einstellung des Parameters mit dem bisher größten Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und/oder Verstärkungseigenschaften des Hörgerätes dessen Anpassung an die bestehende Hörsituation so verbessert wurde, dass nunmehr die Verstellung eines anderen Parameters einen größeren Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und/oder Verstärkungseigenschaften des Hörgerätes entwickelt, als das durch eine weitere Feinabstimmung des bereits recht gut eingestellten und zuerst variierten Parameters der Fall wäre.The core of the invention consists in offering only a few parameters or only one parameter when adjusting a hearing device, which can be varied in a specific hearing situation. For this purpose, only a few or one actuating element are to be actuated by the person who is to undertake the adaptation of the hearing device to the relevant hearing situation, in particular the hearing device wearer himself in a normal everyday situation. However, the functional scope of the hearing aid is not limited thereby. This is achieved in that for the adjustment of the hearing aid provided control elements are each associated with such circuit arrangements, via which a variation of exactly the parameters is possible, their change in the relevant hearing situation and / or taking into account the current settings of the adjustable parameters of the hearing aid has a particularly strong influence on the transmission and / or amplification properties of the hearing aid. The possibility of adjusting other parameters can thereby be eliminated temporarily, but re-established by a change in the linkage of the actuators when a listening situation results, in which the expediency or necessity of the variation of one or more parameters does not previously for such Variation were offered. A change in the combination of the control elements can thus also take place according to the invention, if its adjustment to the existing hearing situation has been improved by adjusting the parameter with the greatest influence on the transmission and / or amplification properties of the hearing aid so that now the adjustment another parameter has a greater impact on the transmission and / or amplification characteristics of the hearing aid than would be the case with further fine-tuning of the already well adjusted and first varied parameter.
Parameter sind dabei alle Größen, für die grundsätzlich eine Verstellbarkeit in zumindest einigen Hörsituationen vorgesehen ist, die einen Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und Verstärkungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes haben können. Darunter können auch Parametersätze fallen, die in Form nicht unabhängig von einander einstellbarer Parameterensembles in Algorithmen zur Signalverarbeitung, wie sie beispielsweise zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung Verwendung finden, integriert sind. Unter Übertragungs- und/oder Verstärkungseigenschaften des Hörgerätes sind im vorliegenden Zusammenhang alle Eigenschaften des Hörgerätes zu verstehen, die durch Stellelemente oder andere technische Mittel an eine Hörsituation und/oder einen Kundenwunsch bezüglich akustischer und/oder selektiver Eigenschaften des Hörgerätes angepasst werden können.Parameters are all sizes, for which in principle an adjustability provided in at least some listening situations is that can have an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid. This may include parameter sets which are integrated in the form of parameter ensembles which can not be set independently of one another in signal processing algorithms such as those used for noise suppression. Under transmission and / or amplification properties of the hearing aid in the present context, all properties of the hearing aid to understand that can be adjusted by actuators or other technical means to a hearing situation and / or a customer request for acoustic and / or selective properties of the hearing aid.
Die Erfindung bedient sich einer Ermittlung bzw. Abschätzung einer Wirksamkeit einer vorzunehmenden Verstellmöglichkeit, um in Abhängigkeit von dieser Wirksamkeit einem Hörgerätenutzer diese Verstellmöglichkeit anzubieten. Die Wirksamkeit der Verstellung eines Parameters bzw. eines Algorithmus setzt zumindest eine qualifizierte Veränderung zwischen dem Eingangs- und dem Ausgangssignal dieses Algorithmus bzw. eine Abhängigkeit dieser Veränderung von der jeweils gewählten Einstellung voraus. Im Allgemeinen kann jeder Vergleich zwischen Input- und Outputsignal eines Algorithmus als Maß für dessen Wirksamkeit dienen.The invention makes use of a determination or estimation of an effectiveness of an adjustment to be made in order to offer this adjustment option to a hearing device user as a function of this effectiveness. The effectiveness of the adjustment of a parameter or an algorithm requires at least a qualified change between the input and the output signal of this algorithm or a dependence of this change on the selected setting. In general, any comparison between the input and output signals of an algorithm can serve as a measure of its effectiveness.
Zur Realisierung der Erfindung ist zumindest ein einstellbares Hörgerät erforderlich, an dem mindestens ein Parameter, der einen Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und Verstärkungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes hat, verstellt werden kann, wobei Mittel umfasst sind, die eine Prüfung der Wirksamkeit einer Verstellung dieses Parameters in der jeweils bestehenden Hörsituation vornehmen, und Mittel umfasst sind, die bei Vorliegen einer Mindestwirksamkeit die Verstellmöglichkeit dieses Parameters freischalten. Vorteilhafterweise umfasst die Freischaltung der Verstellmöglichkeit die schaltungstechnische Verknüpfung des verstellbaren Parameters mit einem variabel belegbaren Stellelement. Wird also vom Hörgeräteträger das Stellelement betätigt, so wird eine Verstellung des Parameters, der zum Zeitpunkt der Verstellung mit dem Stellelement verknüpft ist, auch eine entsprechende Wirkung zeigen, da er bei fehlender Wirksamkeit in einer bestimmten Hörsituation nicht über das Stellelement zu verändern wäre. Unerkannte oder schlecht reproduzierbare Ein- oder Verstellungen von Parametern werden so vermieden. Geräteintern steht somit stets fest, welche Parameter gemäß der Benutzereingabe verändert werden, um die Geräteeinstellungen, insbesondere die Einstellungen von Störgeräuschunterdrückungsalgorithmen, den Benutzerwünschen anzupassen. Durch die beschriebene Feststellung der Wirksamkeit der einzelnen Algorithmen und die ausschließliche Veränderung der in einer Situation aktiven Algorithmen erfolgt eine implizit situationsabhängige Anpassung der Störgeräuschunterdrückungswirkung.For the realization of the invention, at least one adjustable hearing aid is required, on which at least one parameter which has an influence on the transmission and amplification characteristics of the hearing aid can be adjusted, wherein means are included which test the effectiveness of an adjustment of this parameter in the each existing hearing situation, and means are included, which enable the adjustment of this parameter in the presence of a minimum effectiveness. Advantageously, the activation of the adjustment possibility comprises the circuitry connection of the adjustable parameter with a variably assignable control element. Thus, if the actuator is actuated by the hearing aid wearer, an adjustment of the parameter, which is linked at the time of adjustment with the actuator, also show a corresponding effect, since it would not be to change the actuator in a given hearing situation in the absence of efficacy. Unrecognized or poorly reproducible adjustments or adjustments of parameters are thus avoided. Thus, it is always fixed internally which parameters are changed according to the user input in order to adapt the device settings, in particular the settings of noise suppression algorithms, to the user's wishes. Through the described determination of the effectiveness of the individual algorithms and the exclusive change of the algorithms active in a situation, an implicitly situation-dependent adaptation of the noise suppression effect takes place.
Da die erfindungsgemäße Einstellbarkeit von Hörgeräten insbesondere bei der Anpassung komplizierter Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmen ihre Vorteile zeigt, wird die Erfindung im Folgenden mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf der Anpassung von Algorithmen zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung erläutert, ohne sie jedoch ausschließlich auf diese Anwendungen zu beschränken.Since the adjustability of hearing aids according to the invention, in particular in the adaptation of complicated signal processing algorithms, shows its advantages, the invention is explained below with particular emphasis on the adaptation of noise reduction algorithms, without, however, restricting them exclusively to these applications.
Da verschiedene Hörgeräteträger abhängig von der Umgebungssituation häufig eine unterschiedliche Wirkungsstärke der Störgeräuschunterdrückung bzw. der einzelnen in ihrem Hörgerät integrierten Algorithmen zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung bevorzugen, ist eine einfache und eindeutige Wahl der Parameter zur Anpassung dieser Algorithmen in Form einer Vorgabe nach dem Erkennen und/oder Klassifizieren einer Hörsituation schwierig. Es verbleibt die Notwendigkeit einer Anpassung, in deren Verlauf der Hörgeräteträger in jeweils konkreten Situationen seine Präferenzen in die Einstellung der Algorithmen zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung einfließen lassen kann. Das kann erfindungsgemäß über eine einfache Schnittstelle erfolgen, welche die Komplexität des Einstellvorganges reduziert und durch erfindungsgemäß verknüpfte Stellelemente gebildet werden kann.Since different hearing aid wearers often prefer different levels of noise suppression or the individual noise suppression algorithms integrated in their hearing aid depending on the environmental situation, a simple and unambiguous choice of the parameters for adapting these algorithms in the form of a specification after the recognition and / or classification of a Hearing difficult. There remains the need for adaptation, in the course of which the hearing device wearer can incorporate his preferences in each case specific situations in the setting of the algorithms for noise suppression. This can be done according to the invention via a simple interface, which reduces the complexity of the adjustment and can be formed by inventively linked control elements.
Die Einstellungen werden in diesem Fall schrittweise und nacheinander vorgenommen, wobei eine ständige Verbesserung der Anpassung des Hörgerätes an die jeweils herrschende Hörsituation erfolgt, eine Verschlechterung der Anpassung durch die Vornahme fehlerhafter Einstellungen wird dagegen weitgehend ausgeschlossen. Das erleichtert es, situationsabhängige Einstellungen für verschiedene Algorithmen, insbesondere für Algorithmen zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung, zu finden, die in der jeweiligen Hörsituation optimal an die individuellen Bedürfnisse des Hörgeräteträgers angepasst sind. Dem Hörgeräteträger wird hierbei die Möglichkeit gegeben, mittels der erfindungsgemäßen Benutzerschnittstelle die Wirkung der Störgeräuschunterdrückung seiner Präferenz in der aktuellen Umgebungssituation anzupassen, ohne sich detailliert mit der Wirkungsweise der verschiedenen Algorithmen auseinandersetzen und eine Auswahlentscheidung treffen zu müssen.The settings are made in this case stepwise and successively, with a continuous improvement of the adjustment of the hearing aid to the prevailing listening situation, a deterioration of the adjustment by making erroneous settings, however, is largely excluded. This makes it easier to find situation-dependent settings for different algorithms, in particular for algorithms for noise suppression, which are optimally adapted to the individual needs of the hearing device wearer in the respective hearing situation. The hearing aid wearer is given the opportunity in this case to adapt the effect of the noise suppression of his preference in the current environmental situation by means of the user interface according to the invention, without having to deal in detail with the mode of operation of the various algorithms and having to make a selection decision.
Vorteilhafter Weise erfolgt eine Protokollierung der vorgenommenen Verstellungen bzw. der eingestellten Werte der einstellbaren Parameter, vorzugsweise auch der Wirksamkeit verschiedener Algorithmen, insbesondere solcher zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung. Diese Protokollierung kann dazu benutzt werden, dem Hörgerät über einen Lernalgorithmus eine ständige Verbesserung einer automatischen Anpassung des Hörgerätes an wechselnde Hörsituationen und Präferenzen des Hörgeräteträgers zu ermöglichen. Dazu ist es vorteilhaft, wenn eine Hörsituation analysiert und/oder klassifiziert wird, einstellbare Parameter, die einen Einfluss auf die Übertragungs- und/oder Verstärkungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes haben, zunächst auf zu dieser Hörsituation gehörende Ausgangswerte gesetzt und anschließend verstellt werden, nachdem eine Prüfung der Wirksamkeit der Verstellungen in der bestehenden Hörsituation durchgeführt und bei Vorliegen einer Mindestwirksamkeit die Verstellmöglichkeiten der Parameter, die sich durch eine Mindestwirksamkeit auszeichnen, freigeschaltet wurden. Die Gefahr der Vornahme fehlerhafter Einstellungen ist auch in diesem Fall gering, da die der Verstellung vorgeschaltete Wirksamkeitsprüfung unerkannte bzw. schlecht reproduzierbare Verstellungen von Parametern verhindert. Insbesondere wenn vorgenommene Verstellungen der Parameter protokolliert werden und die Einstellungen der Parameter später als Ausgangswerte benutzt werden, auf die die einstellbaren Parameter gesetzt werden, wenn zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt eine Hörsituation erkannt wird, die sich durch ähnliche akustische Merkmale oder eine gleiche Klassifizierung auszeichnet, dienen die Benutzereingaben dazu, um ein situationsabhängiges Lernen der vom Hörgeräteträger jeweils bevorzugten Einstellungen zu ermöglichen. In häufig auftretenden Hörsituationen wird so allmählich eine manuelle Anpassung der Parameter überflüssig, da nach Erkennen der Hörsituation automatisch der optimale Parametersatz vorgegeben wird.Advantageously, the adjustments made or the set values of the adjustable parameters, preferably also the effectiveness of different algorithms, in particular those for noise suppression, are logged. This logging can be used to allow the hearing aid via a learning algorithm, a continuous improvement of an automatic adjustment of the hearing aid to changing listening situations and preferences of the hearing aid wearer. For this purpose, when analyzing and / or classifying a hearing situation, it is advantageous to set adjustable parameters which have an influence on the transmission and / or amplification characteristics of the hearing aid, initially set to initial values belonging to this hearing situation and then adjusted after a test of the hearing Effectiveness of the adjustments made in the existing hearing situation and the availability of parameters, which are characterized by a minimum effectiveness, were released in the presence of a minimum effectiveness. The risk of making erroneous settings is also low in this case, since the effectiveness of the adjustment upstream of the adjustment unrecognized or poorly reproducible Adjustments of parameters prevented. In particular, when made adjustments of the parameters are logged and the settings of the parameters are later used as output values to which the adjustable parameters are set, if at a later time a hearing situation is recognized, which is characterized by similar acoustic characteristics or a similar classification serve the user inputs to allow a situation-dependent learning of the respective hearing device wearer preferred settings. In frequently occurring hearing situations, manual adjustment of the parameters gradually becomes superfluous since the optimum parameter set is automatically predefined once the hearing situation has been detected.
Die Anpassung der Parameter kann sowohl momentan, als auch zeitlich geglättet erfolgen. Das Ergebnis dieses Lernprozesses wird im Hörgerät abgelegt und steht nach Aus- und Einschalten desselben wieder zur Verfügung. Hierdurch ist eine kontinuierliche Anpassung an die vom Benutzer bevorzugte Einstellung möglich bis eine optimale Annäherung erreicht ist und keine weitere Änderung notwendig erscheint.The adaptation of the parameters can take place both instantaneously and temporally smoothed. The result of this learning process is stored in the hearing aid and is available after switching it off and on again. As a result, a continuous adjustment to the user-preferred setting is possible until an optimal approach is reached and no further change appears necessary.
Die Erfindung bietet eine Reihe von Vorteilen. Zum einen können Hörgeräte in komplizierten Hörsituationen, die von Laien schwierig zu bewerten sind, auf einfache Weise zielführend durch den Benutzer auf seine Bedürfnisse abgestimmt werden. In schwierig zu bewertenden Hörsituationen kann die Erfindung überhaupt die Möglichkeit eröffnen, ein Hörgerät fehlerfrei von einem Laien bevorzugt dem Hörgeräteträger einstellen zu lassen.The invention offers a number of advantages. On the one hand, hearing aids in complicated listening situations, which are difficult to assess by laypersons, can be tailored in a simple manner to the user's needs in a targeted manner. In hard-to-assess listening situations, the invention can even open up the possibility of having a hearing aid set faultlessly by a layman preferably the hearing aid wearer.
Das Hörgerät wird dabei zwangsläufig situationsabhängig eingestellt, da nur Parameter, deren Einfluss als hörbar bewertet wird, angepasst werden. Andere Parameter bleiben auf den bestehenden Werten, die beispielsweise in Form von Voreinstellungen angeboten werden können, was die Gefahr von Fehleinstellungen reduziert. Die Einstellung des Hörgerätes kann auch in komplexen Hörsituationen über ein einfaches Inter-face, beispielsweise in Form eines einzigen eindimensionalen Stellelements, vorgenommen werden. Ein derartiges Stellelement kann in einem einfachen Drehregler bestehen oder Plus/Minus-Tasten, beispielsweise an einer mit dem Hörgerät kommunizierenden Fernbedienung, umfassen.The hearing aid is thereby inevitably set depending on the situation, since only parameters whose influence is evaluated as audible are adjusted. Other parameters remain on the existing values, which can be offered in the form of presets, for example, which reduces the risk of incorrect settings. The adjustment of the hearing aid can also be used in complex listening situations via a simple inter-face, for example, in the form of a single one-dimensional actuator. Such a control element may consist of a simple rotary control or include plus / minus buttons, for example on a communicating with the hearing aid remote control.
Zum anderen kann durch die Nutzung von Lernalgorithmen ein sehr effektives Optimieren des Hörgerätes in unterschiedlichen Hörsituationen erfolgen, was bereits nach einer kurzen Trainingsphase weitere Interaktionen seitens des Hörgeräteträgers überflüssig macht. Ein Vorteil der Erfindung besteht darin, dass auch benutzte Lernalgorithmen nur einen Einfluss auf in einer bestimmten Hörsituation als wirksam bewertete und daher verstellbare Parameter haben, was es erleichtert, in bestimmten Hörsituationen fehlerhafte Parametervorgaben zu vermeiden. So können beispielsweise in einer bestehenden Hörsituation keine Algorithmen zur Störgeräuschunterdrückung versehentlich verändert werden, die in dieser Hörsituation wirkungslos bleiben.On the other hand, by using learning algorithms, a very effective optimization of the hearing aid in different listening situations can take place, which makes further interactions on the part of the hearing aid wearer superfluous even after a short training phase. An advantage of the invention is that even used learning algorithms only have an influence on parameters which are evaluated as being effective and therefore adjustable in a specific hearing situation, which makes it easier to avoid incorrect parameter specifications in certain listening situations. Thus, for example, in an existing hearing situation, no algorithms for noise suppression can be changed inadvertently, which remain ineffective in this hearing situation.
An Ausführungsbeispielen wird die Erfindung näher beschrieben. Es zeigen:
- Fig. 1
- eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Hörgerätes;
- Fig. 2
- einen Ausschnitt aus einem Programmablaufplan zur Beschreibung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Betrieb eines erfindungsgemäßen Hörgerätes;
- Fig. 3
- einen weiteren Ausschnitt aus einem Programmablaufplan zur Beschreibung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Betrieb eines erfindungsgemäßen Hörgerätes; und
- Fig. 4
- einen weiteren Ausschnitt aus einem Programmablaufplan zur Beschreibung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Betrieb eines erfindungsgemäßen Hörgerätes.
- Fig. 1
- a schematic representation of a hearing aid according to the invention;
- Fig. 2
- a section of a program flowchart for the description of the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention;
- Fig. 3
- a further detail of a program flowchart for the description of the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention; and
- Fig. 4
- another section of a program flowchart for the description of the method according to the invention for operating a hearing aid according to the invention.
Die Ermittlung der Wirksamkeit kann auf verschiedene Weise erfolgen. In einer erkannten bzw. klassifizierten Hörsituation, die stets durch bestimmte Spektren beschrieben werden kann, ist es möglich, durch Nutzung verschiedener Modelle, welche die Wirkung der einzustellenden Parameter und/oder Algorithmen beschreiben, deren Wirkung bzw. die Auswirkung einer Verstellung derselben auf die Verstärkungs- und Übertragungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes in der erkannten oder klassifizierten Hörsituation zu simulieren und beispielsweise durch einen Vergleich der simulierten Eingangssignale und der simulierten Ausgangssignale die Wirksamkeit im Sinne der Erfindung zu errechnen. Bei Vorhandensein eines leistungsfähigen Klassifizierung- und/oder Erkennungssystems und entsprechend regelmäßig auftretenden Hörsituationen lassen sich auf diese Weise bereits gute Resultate erzielen.The determination of the effectiveness can be done in different ways. In a recognized or classified hearing situation, which can always be described by specific spectra, it is possible, by using different models, which describe the effect of the parameters and / or algorithms to be set, their effect or the effect of an adjustment thereof on the amplification and to simulate transmission characteristics of the hearing device in the recognized or classified hearing situation and to calculate the effectiveness in the sense of the invention by comparing the simulated input signals and the simulated output signals, for example. In the presence of an efficient classification and / or recognition system and correspondingly occurring hearing situations, good results can already be achieved in this way.
Eine weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens ergibt sich, wenn statt einem Klassifizierungsversuch eine Echtzeiterfassung der anliegenden Hörsituation erfolgt und auf so gewonnene Eingangsgrößen verschiedener Modelle, welche die Wirkung der einzustellenden Parameter und/oder Algorithmen beschreiben, angewandt werden. Dadurch kann die Wirkung dieser Parameter und/oder Algorithmen bzw. die Auswirkung einer Verstellung derselben auf die Verstärkungs- und Übertragungscharakteristik des Hörgerätes in der tatsächlich erfassten bzw. vermessenen Hörsituation simuliert und beispielsweise durch einen Vergleich der simulierten Eingangssignale und der simulierten Ausgangssignale die Wirksamkeit im Sinne der Erfindung errechnet werden. Auf einen Abgleich der tatsächlichen Hörsituation mit verschiedenen bereits klassifizierten Hörsituationen kann in diesem Fall verzichtet werden, was die meisten Probleme bezüglich der Erkennungsgenauigkeit bei der Zuordnung von Hörsituationen vermeidet.A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention results when, instead of a classification attempt, real-time detection of the applied auditory situation takes place and applied to input variables of various models which describe the effect of the parameters and / or algorithms to be set. As a result, the effect of these parameters and / or algorithms or the effect of an adjustment thereof on the amplification and transmission characteristic of the hearing aid in the actually detected or measured hearing situation can be simulated and, for example, by comparing the simulated input signals and the simulated output signals, the effectiveness in terms of the invention can be calculated. In this case, a comparison of the actual hearing situation with different already classified hearing situations can be dispensed with, which avoids the majority of problems with regard to the recognition accuracy in the assignment of auditory situations.
Völlig unabhängig von der Qualität von Rechenmodellen lässt sich das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren durchführen, wenn statt einer simulierten Wirkung zu prüfender Parameter in einer bestimmten Hörsituation eine tatsächliche Bestimmung der Veränderung eines eingehenden Signals durch einen einzustellenden Algorithmus vorgenommen wird. Auf diese Weise lässt sich eine besonders genaue Bestimmung der Wirksamkeit eines Parameters und/oder Algorithmus zur Signalverarbeitung realisieren.The method according to the invention can be carried out completely independently of the quality of mathematical models if, instead of a simulated effect of the parameters to be tested, an actual determination of the change in an incoming signal by an algorithm to be set is made in a specific auditory situation. In this way, a particularly accurate determination of the effectiveness of a parameter and / or algorithm for signal processing can be realized.
Einer direkten Erfassung der Wirksamkeit eines Algorithmus in einer bestimmten Hörsituation kann zumindest dann Vorrang eingeräumt werden, wenn aus einer ermittelten Wirksamkeit gleichzeitig auf die erforderliche Wirksamkeit einer vorzunehmenden Verstellung eines Parameters dieses Algorithmus geschlossen wird, um diese Verstellmöglichkeit durch die erfindungsgemäße Verknüpfung mit einem Stellelement freizugeben. Soll dagegen die Wirksamkeit einer vorzunehmenden Verstellung bestimmt werden, da die Wirksamkeit eines Algorithmus in einer bestimmten Hörsituation und Einstellung nicht als Indiz für eine Wirksamkeit der Verstellung selbst angesehen wird, sind modellbasierte Verfahren, wie soeben beschrieben, vorteilhafterweise einzusetzen.A direct detection of the effectiveness of an algorithm in a particular hearing situation can be given priority at least when it is concluded from a determined effectiveness at the same time on the required effectiveness of a parameter adjustment to be made, this algorithm to release this adjustment by linking the invention with an actuator. If, on the other hand, the effectiveness of an adjustment to be made is to be determined, since the effectiveness of an algorithm in a specific hearing situation and setting is not regarded as an indication of an effectiveness of the adjustment itself, model-based methods, as described above, are to be used advantageously.
Die einzelnen dargestellten Aspekte der Bestimmung der Wirksamkeit einer Ein- oder Verstellung eines Parameters oder Algorithmus können auf vorteilhafte Weise miteinander kombiniert werden. Beispielsweise kann eine direkte Erfassung der Wirksamkeit eines Algorithmus in einer bestimmten Hörsituation mit einem Klassifizierungssystem zur Klassifizierung von Hörsituationen kombiniert werden, wobei tatsächlich ermittelte Wirksamkeiten von Verstellmöglichkeiten mit der jeweils klassifizierten Hörsituation verknüpft werden.The individual aspects of determining the effectiveness of an adjustment or adjustment of a parameter or algorithm can advantageously be combined with one another. For example, a direct assessment of the effectiveness of an algorithm in a given listening situation can be made with a classification system for classifying Hearing situations are combined, whereby actually determined efficiencies of adjustment are linked to the classified hearing in each case.
Die Ermittlung der Wirksamkeit kann sowohl ereignisgebunden im Moment einer Benutzereingabe, als auch kontinuierlich über den Zeitraum vor bzw. nach der Benutzereingabe erfolgen.The determination of the effectiveness can take place both event-bound at the moment of a user input, as well as continuously over the period before or after the user input.
Die Zuordnung eines bestimmten Wirksamkeitsparameters zu einem von einem Eingangssignal zu durchlaufenden Algorithmus in einer bestimmten Hörsituation bildet einen Kernbereich der vorliegenden Erfindung. Die dargestellte Abfolge von Programmschritten kann ein- oder mehrfach in Programmabläufe integriert werden, die zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens geeignet sind, wobei in die Vergleichsoperationen sowohl direkt gemessene oder anliegende als auch in der dargestellten Weise modellbasierte Eingangs- und Ausgangssignale einbezogen werden können.The assignment of a specific efficacy parameter to an algorithm to be traversed by an input signal in a given auditory situation constitutes a core area of the present invention. The illustrated sequence of program steps can be integrated one or more times in program sequences which are suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, wherein in the comparison operations both directly measured or applied as well as in the manner shown model-based input and output signals can be included.
Die Bestimmung der Wirksamkeit von Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmen und davon abhängige Sperrung bzw. Freigabe entsprechender Verstellmöglichkeiten kann auch auf vorteilhafte Weise für die Anwendung von Lernalgorithmen genutzt werden. Im Hinblick auf eine intelligente Störgeräuschunterdrückung heisst das, es werden zwangsläufig durch den jeweiligen Lernalgorithmus nur die Komponenten der Störgeräuschreduktion berücksichtigt, die das Signal in der jeweiligen Situation gemäß der abgeschätzten Wirksamkeit verändern. Liegt zum Beispiel eine Situation ohne Wind vor, wird der Algorithmus zur Windgeräuschreduktion das Signal nicht beeinflussen und ist demzufolge nicht wirksam. Auch Verstellungen am Algorithmus zur Windgeräuschreduktion sind wirkungslos und können erfindungsgemäß nicht variiert werden. Daher wird die gelernte bzw. momentane Einstellung der Windgeräuschreduktion in dieser konkreten Situation unverändert belassen.The determination of the effectiveness of signal processing algorithms and dependent blocking or release of corresponding adjustment options can also be used advantageously for the application of learning algorithms. With regard to intelligent noise suppression, this means that only the components of the noise reduction that inevitably affect the signal in the respective situation in accordance with the estimated effectiveness are taken into account by the respective learning algorithm. For example, if there is a windless situation, the wind noise reduction algorithm will not affect the signal and is therefore ineffective. Also, adjustments to the algorithm for wind noise reduction are ineffective and can not be varied according to the invention. Therefore, the learned or instantaneous setting of the wind noise reduction is left unchanged in this concrete situation.
Werden die Verfahrensschritte aus
Vorteilhafterweise können einzelne variabel belegbare Stellelemente zur Einstellung für intuitiv verknüpfte Gruppen von Parametern oder Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmen vorgesehen sein. Beispielsweise kann ein variabel belegbares Stellelement zur erfindungsgemäßen Einstellung aller Störgeräuschunterdrückungsalgorithmen, die in ein Hörgerät integriert sind, vorgesehen sein.Advantageously, individual variably assignable control elements can be provided for setting for intuitively linked groups of parameters or signal processing algorithms. For example, a variably assignable actuator for the inventive adjustment of all noise reduction algorithms that are integrated into a hearing aid, be provided.
Claims (17)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102007038191A DE102007038191B3 (en) | 2007-08-13 | 2007-08-13 | Individually adjustable hearing aid and method for its operation |
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| EP2026607A1 true EP2026607A1 (en) | 2009-02-18 |
| EP2026607B1 EP2026607B1 (en) | 2013-05-15 |
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| EP08104788.8A Active EP2026607B1 (en) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-07-18 | Individually adjustable hearing aid and method for its operation |
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| US (1) | US8208667B2 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP2026607B1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE102007038191B3 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102008004659A1 (en) * | 2008-01-16 | 2009-07-30 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. | Method and device for configuring setting options on a hearing aid |
| DE102009024577A1 (en) * | 2009-06-10 | 2010-12-16 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. | Method for determining a frequency response of a hearing device and associated hearing device |
| DK2306756T3 (en) * | 2009-08-28 | 2011-12-12 | Siemens Medical Instr Pte Ltd | Method of fine tuning a hearing aid as well as hearing aid |
| AU2010261722B2 (en) | 2010-09-14 | 2015-01-29 | Phonak Ag | Method for adjusting a hearing device as well as an arrangement for adjusting a hearing device |
| US9554218B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2017-01-24 | Cochlear Limited | Automatic sound optimizer |
| EP3808101B1 (en) * | 2018-06-15 | 2024-11-13 | Widex A/S | Method of fine tuning a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system |
| US11057724B2 (en) * | 2019-09-24 | 2021-07-06 | Sonova Ag | Systems and methods for fitting a hearing device |
| EP3941092A1 (en) | 2020-07-16 | 2022-01-19 | Sonova AG | Fitting of hearing device dependent on program activity |
| CN113825080A (en) * | 2021-09-11 | 2021-12-21 | 武汉左点科技有限公司 | Self-checking and matching method and device for hearing aid |
| EP4422211A1 (en) * | 2023-02-27 | 2024-08-28 | Sonova AG | Method of optimizing audio processing in a hearing device |
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2007
- 2007-08-13 DE DE102007038191A patent/DE102007038191B3/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2008
- 2008-07-18 DK DK08104788.8T patent/DK2026607T3/en active
- 2008-07-18 EP EP08104788.8A patent/EP2026607B1/en active Active
- 2008-08-12 US US12/228,411 patent/US8208667B2/en active Active
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| DE10064210A1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2002-07-11 | Siemens Audiologische Technik | Functional testing and/or adjusting method for hearing aid by deriving signal transmission behavior from electrical signals read from hearing aid |
| DE10152197A1 (en) | 2001-10-23 | 2003-05-08 | Siemens Audiologische Technik | Operating hearing aid involves recording control and recording steps repeated until command sequence completed, deactivating recorder, carrying out recorded command steps |
| WO2006074655A1 (en) | 2005-01-17 | 2006-07-20 | Widex A/S | Apparatus and method for operating a hearing aid |
| DE102005009530B3 (en) | 2005-03-02 | 2006-08-31 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Hearing aid system with automatic tone storage where a tone setting can be stored with an appropriate classification |
| EP1713302A1 (en) | 2005-04-14 | 2006-10-18 | Bernafon AG | System and method for personalizing a hearing aid |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20090046878A1 (en) | 2009-02-19 |
| DK2026607T3 (en) | 2013-08-26 |
| US8208667B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 |
| EP2026607B1 (en) | 2013-05-15 |
| DE102007038191B3 (en) | 2008-12-04 |
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