Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a binaural hearing system and devices being operable according to said method. The hearing system comprises two hearing devices (10, 20), each comprising a signal processing unit (12, 22) for processing an audio input signal according to at least one hearing program (P) to provide an output signal being forwarded to an output transducer (13, 23) of the respective hearing device (10, 20). The method comprises the steps of: determining device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra) being related to the hearing devices (10, 20) and to at least one hearing device specific adjustment having been applied earlier to the at least one hearing program (P); calculating synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)) according to a function that depends on the device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra); and; synchronizing the hearing devices (10, 20) by taking into account the synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tip-plate assembly for arrangement at a proximal end portion of a hearing device to be worn at least partially within an ear canal such that said proximal end portion faces towards an ear drum. Said tip-plate assembly comprises a tip-plate (9) having a seating aperture (10), a receiver module (5) having a sound output port (6) at a front end (11), and a suspension element (12). Said suspension element (12) at least partly envelopes said receiver module (5) at said front end (11) and said receiver module (5) is mounted in said seating aperture (10) by means of said suspension element (12). Said tip-plate assembly may further comprise a microphone module (15). Moreover, a hearing device comprising such a tip-plate assembly is given, and a method of manufacturing a hearing device comprising such a tip-plate assembly is proposed.

Abstract: A hearing device comprises an ear-piece which is designed to be worn at least partially in an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The ear-piece comprises a vent passage connecting the ear canal with the atmosphere. The vent passage has an inner opening towards the ear-canal and an outer opening towards the atmosphere. The ear-piece further comprises a vent extension. The vent extension is a protrusion extending the vent passage beyond the body of the ear-piece. The vent extension is adapted for abutting on a surface of the body of the user and is thereby inconspicuous and/or contributes thereby to retention. A method for manufacturing such a hearing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of speech enhancement in a room (10) includes the steps of capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice by a microphone (12), estimating an ambient noise level in the room from the captured audio signals, processing the captured audio signals by an audio signal processing unit (20), estimating a reverberation level, determining the gain to be applied to the captured audio signals by the audio signal processing unit according to a comparison between the estimated ambient noise level and the estimated reverberation level, and generating sound according to the processed audio signals by a loudspeaker arrangement (24) located in the room, wherein the reverberation level is the level of reverberant components of the sound generated by the loudspeaker arrangement.

Abstract: A method for providing sound to at least one user, in which audio signals are captured and transformed into audio data that is transmitted to at least one receiver unit; audio signals are generated from the received audio data and the hearing of the user(s) stimulated thereby; wherein the audio data is transmitted as audio data packets in separate slots of a TDMA frame structure, wherein the transmission unit and the receiver unit(s) are synchronized to form a wireless network, wherein each TDMA frame structure has at least one listening slot during which the synchronized network members do not transmit data and at least one network members listens, and wherein control data is transmitted from an external control device according to a sequence pattern selected according to the duration and periodicity of the listening slot(s) to be received by the at least one synchronized network member during said listening slot(s).

Abstract: A method for deploying hearing instrument fitting software wherein the fitting software comprises executable fitting program code (13) configured to process fitting program data (12,14) on a programmable data processor (11), comprises the steps of reading fitting program definition data (3) from data storage means provided in the hearing instrument (1), determining, from the fitting program definition data (3), at least part of least one of the fitting program data (12,14) and the fitting program code (13). The hearing instrument itself comprises the information defining the fitting software—be it the complete fitting software or an update or change to a fitting software residing in an external device.

Abstract: A method for better matching of the needs of mild to very mild hearing losses is obtained than with known hearing devices. The method comprising the steps of determining an acoustic situation by processing an input signal of a hearing device openly coupled to an ear of a user, selecting at least two hearing programs in dependence on the determined acoustic situation, at least one of the hearing programs being suitable for calm acoustic situations, and at least another one of the hearing programs being suitable for noisy acoustic situations, applying a gain only above a predefined frequency limit to the input signal if one of the hearing programs for calm acoustic situations is selected, and reducing noise in the input signal only in a frequency range within audible frequencies if one of the hearing programs for noisy acoustic situations is selected.

Abstract: A hearing system with an analogue control element including a selector for precise and reliable user selection of desired predefined settings. The selecting range of the analogue control element is partitioned into segments, each identified by an identification digit. At least two successive segments define a section. Each section represents a particular setting of the hearing system and is identified by a section digit. The hearing system stores the identification digit and the section digit in the non volatile memory according to the position of the selector. The stored identification digit and section digit are controlled by the signal processing unit and are only modified when the position of the selector is moved over at least two successive segments of the selecting range.

Abstract: There is provided an earphone system comprising an earphone and at least two acoustic dampers (24), the earphone comprising a speaker unit (10) and an earpiece (12, 12A, 12B), the speaker unit comprising a sound driver (18), a wiring connector (14) for providing audio signals to the sound driver and a case (16) housing the sound driver, the earpiece comprising a sound outlet opening (28) and being designed for being worn in a user's ear canal and/or concha, the sound driver having a frequency response having a maximum within the range of 2000 Hz to 4000 Hz, wherein the speaker unit is for being inserted into the earpiece, wherein each of the acoustic dampers (24) is for being inserted into the earpiece or the speaker unit in an exchangeable manner and wherein each of the acoustic dampers, when used with the earphone, has a frequency response different from that of the other acoustic damper(s).

Abstract: Acclimatization of a hearing device user to a hearing device is made more acceptable by automatic acclimatization management. The intensity of the hearing device is increased in the long term, e.g. during several months. The speed of the intensity increase depends on user inputs. A user controls an audio processing parameter (APP), such as volume, with a user control. Each time the user switches the hearing device off and on again, the power-on value (POV) of the audio processing parameter (APP) is changed. The amount of the change depends on which settings for the audio processing parameter (APP) have been selected by the hearing device user and how long the settings have been active. An initial power-on value (iPOV) and a target power-on value (tPOV), which is to be reached at the end (H) of the acclimatization phase, may be programmed by an audiologist.

Abstract: A hearing device with a connecting portion (15) for the connection of a hook or acoustic tube comprises an inside thread (21) or internal thread portion at the connecting portion intended for the attachment of a hook or acoustic tube.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a hearing device for extending a usable frequency range of an analog input signal (i) being processed by a hearing device, the method comprising the steps of converting the analog input signal (i) to a first output signal (o1) and to an intermediate signal (om), the first output signal (o1) having a final sampling rate and the intermediate signal (om) having an intermediate sampling rate that is greater than the final sampling rate, applying a band-pass filter unit (31) to the intermediate signal (om) in order to obtain a filtered intermediate signal (omf), a lower cut-off frequency of the band-pass filter unit (31) being above half the final sampling rate, an upper cut-off frequency of the band-pass filter unit (31) being below half the intermediate sampling rate, and shifting a spectrum of the filtered intermediate signal (omf) to a frequency range being below the final sampling rate to obtain an intermediate output signal (om2).

Abstract: A method of operating a system for providing hearing assistance involves capturing audio signals by a manually controlled transmission unit having a user interface and default values setting transmission unit operating parameter storage, and transmitting audio signals from the transmission unit to a receiver unit, the audio signals being processed in the receiver unit and/or in the transmission unit; stimulating the user's hearing according to the audio signals from the receiver unit; logging user preference data by recording data concerning the manual operation of the user interface of the transmission unit and by recording data concerning the respective use situation of the transmission unit; evaluating, in the transmission unit, the logged user preference data to extract user preferences concerning use of the transmission unit; and adjusting, in the transmission unit, the stored default values of the at least one operating parameter setting according to said extracted user preferences.

Abstract: A method of processing a signal in a hearing instrument includes the steps of calculating a coherence between two microphone signals or microphone combination signals having different directional characteristics, determining an attenuation from the coherence, and applying the attenuation to the signal.

Abstract: A system for speech enhancement in a room having a directional lapel microphone arrangement for capturing an audio signal from a speaker's voice; audio signal processor for generating a processed audio signal from the captured audio signal, and an adaptive beamformer unit for imparting directivity to the microphone arrangement provides maximum sensitivity towards the speaker's mouth and minimum sensitivity towards noise sources identified by the beamformer unit. A unit shifts the frequency of components of the audio signal above a frequency threshold value only. A feedback cancelling unit has an adaptive filter and a selection unit which automatically switches between a first mode causing the audio signal to by-pass the adaptive filter and a second mode in which the audio signal is filtered by the adaptive filter. A loudspeaker arrangement generates sound according to the processed audio signal and has plural loudspeakers arranged to form a directional loudspeaker array.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a hearing device with a housing and a receiver module which comprises a shell (16) with a cavity having an opening (17), wherein at least part of the shell (16) forms part of the housing, and wherein an electro-acoustic transducer, comprising a motor assembly (2) and an acoustic assembly (3) including a membrane, is arranged within the cavity, the acoustic assembly (3) being disposed within the shell (16) such that the cavity is divided into a front chamber (12) and a back chamber (13), the motor assembly (2) being disposed within the back chamber (13) or the front chamber (12) and being operatively coupled to the membrane, and the front chamber (12) being in acoustic communication with the exterior of the shell (16) via the opening (17), wherein the shell (16) has an outer surface individually shaped according to a measured inner shape of a section of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a receiver module is presented.

Abstract: A method for testing a wireless communication system is disclosed comprising a fitting device (1; IF, PC) and at least one of a hearing device (HD1, HD2) and an accessory device (ACC) to the hearing device (HD1, HD2). The fitting device (1; IF, PC) comprising means for communicating with at least one of the hearing device (HD1, HD2) and the accessory device (ACC). The method comprises the steps of: testing at least one of the following elements: a transceiver of the hearing device (HD1, HD2); a transceiver of the accessory device (ACC); a transceiver of the fitting device (1; IF, PC); quality of a link between two transceivers; comparing results of the testing with predefined values, presenting a result of the comparison to the user of the fitting device (1; IF, PC) by indicating failure or non-failure for the corresponding element tested, wherein the step of testing is controlled by the fitting device (1; IF, PC).

Abstract: A method is proposed 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). The proposed method comprises 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). Furthermore, a system is proposed for performing such a method for remotely testing a hearing device (1).

Abstract: A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, having: at least one audio signal source; a first transmission unit with a digital transmitter for applying a digital modulation to the audio signals and to transmit the audio signals via a digital audio link; a second transmission unit with a digital receiver for receiving the audio signals transmitted via the digital audio link and an analog transmitter for applying an analog modulation to the received audio signals and to transmit the audio signals via an analog audio link; at least one first receiver unit having a digital receiver for receiving signals from the digital transmitter and at least one second receiver unit with an analog receiver for receiving signals from the analog transmitter; and a device for stimulating the hearing of a user according to audio signals supplied from the first and second receiver units.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing system to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing system is disclosed, wherein said hearing system is capable of carrying out frequency transposition of audio signals, which frequency transposition depends on at least one parameter. The method comprises the steps of A) carrying out a distinction test for examining said user's ability to distinguish between two stimulus signals which differ in their frequency contents; B) adjusting said at least one parameter in dependence of the result of said distinction test. The distinction test comprises the steps a2) consecutively playing said two stimulus signals to said user; b2) receiving from said user information indicative of whether said user perceived said two stimulus signals as two times the same sound or as two different sounds; c2) deriving a value from said information received from said user; wherein said result of said distinction test is dependent on said value.