Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.

Abstract: A communication system is provided having at least one earpiece (14, 114, 214) including a loudspeaker (26) for stimulating a user's hearing according to audio signals supplied to the earpiece; a voice microphone arrangement (28, 58, 60, 62, 258, 260) for picking up the user's voice; a configurable audio interface (22, 32, 34, 36, 38) for exchanging audio signals with an external wireless communication device (24) selected from a plurality of different types of external wireless communication devices; and a configuration interface (40) for adapting the configuration of the audio interface to the selected type of the external wireless communication device by an external configuration device (18).

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of automatically monitoring and detecting indications indicative of a forthcoming event concerning hearing systems; if such an indication is detected, retrieving identification data identifying at least one device of the hearing system concerned, referred to as specific device, or a user of said hearing system concerned, referred to as specific user; and using said identification data for retrieving further data related to said specific device as device data or related to said specific user as user data. The method and the corresponding system can be used for adjusting said specific hearing system or other support actions, like dispensing consumables for said specific hearing system, or preparatory actions, like launching a suitable fitting program or loading audiological data related to the user.

Abstract: A partially implantable hearing aid is provided, comprising an external audio signal unit to be worn at least in part in a user's ear canal, an implantable unit and external means for transmitting power transcutaneously to the implantable unit via an inductive link, the external audio signal unit comprising audio signal processing means for producing processed audio signals from input audio signals and means for transmitting the processed audio signals via an optical link through an ear drum to an optical receiver of the implantable unit, the implantable unit comprising an actuator for stimulating the user's hearing, a power receiving means and a driver unit for transforming the received audio signals into an input signal to the actuator.

Abstract: Hearing protection system having first and second hearing protection devices worn at/in a respective one of a user's outer ear, each hearing protection device having an active unit with at least one microphone for converting ambient sound into input audio signals and a loudspeaker for transforming filtered audio signals into user perceivable sound, and an audio signal processing unit for processing input audio signals into filtered audio signals, the audio signal processing unit dividing, for each hearing protection device, the input audio signals into a plural frequency bands and selecting the gain applied within each frequency band as a function of the frequency of the respective frequency band and the sound pressure level of the input audio signals falling within the respective frequency band such that the total attenuation provided by the respective hearing protection device in each of the frequency bands corresponds to the same target loudness difference.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing hearing devices comprising an otoplastic individually shaped for a user to be using the respective hearing device is disclosed.

Abstract: According to the invention, a real ear acoustic coupling quantity representative of the acoustic coupling of a hearing instrument to the user's ear or an anatomical transfer quantity—for example the Real-Ear-to-Coupler-Difference (RECD), the Microphone Location Effect (MLE), the Coupler Response for Flat Insertion Gain (CORFIG), and/or the Real Ear Open Gain (REOG)—is obtained from a transfer function representative of an acoustic transfer from the receiver to the outer microphone such as a signal feedback threshold gain. The obtained quantity may be used for setting a fitting parameter of the hearing instrument, for example a gain correction.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing device (1) with a transfer function describing input/output behavior of the hearing device (1) is presented. The method comprising the steps of: recording a sound signal by an input transducer (2) of the hearing device (1); storing at least one of the sound signal and characteristics of the sound signal in a memory unit (4, 8, 11, 15); providing a data base (11, 15) comprising at least media samples; comparing the at least one of the sound signal and its characteristics with at least some of the media samples or characteristics thereof, respectively, to obtain a qualitative measure for at least some of the media samples with respect to the sound signal or its characteristics; selecting the media sample having the best qualitative measure; and adjusting the transfer function on the basis of the selected media sample.

Abstract: The hearing device (1) comprises an outer part (2) to be worn behind a hearing device user's ear (5), an inner part (3) to be worn within the hearing device user's ear (5), and a connecting portion (12) operationally interconnecting said outer part (2) and said inner part (3). An output transducer (8) is comprised in said outer part (2) or in said connecting portion (12. Said inner part (3) comprises an input transducer (6) and, operationally interconnected between said input transducer (6) and said output transducer (8), a signal processing unit (7). Preferably, said connecting portion (12) is detachably connected to said outer part (2) or to said inner part (3) or to both, said outer part (2) and said inner part (3). The connecting portion (12) comprises a tube member (23) for providing guidance for acoustic sound (10) outputted from said output transducer (8) to said inner part (3).

Abstract: A system for picking-up a user's voice, having an earpiece (10) that has a shell (12) and is to be worn at least partly in the user's ear canal (18), an elongate C-shaped bow-like retention element (14) attached to the shell for retaining the shell within the user's ear (18, 66, 68) and an ear microphone (16) oriented acoustically inwardly towards the user's ear canal for picking-up the user's voice. The material and the dimensions of the retention element are selected such that the retention element can be brought into engagement with the user's concha (68) by manual plastic deformation by the user.

Abstract: A switch element (1) for actuating a setting parameter on an electronic microdevice, such as a hearing aid, is characterized by a rotary element (7) having peripherally at least three contact points (9), said contact points being connected to one another in electrically conductive fashion. Furthermore, the switch element has an elastically mounted reset element connected with the rotary element as well as at least two electric leader contacts (3, 5), which can be switched into electrically conducting contact by turning the rotary element via the contact points.

Abstract: The hearing device is adapted to automatically requesting an establishment of a communication connection to at least one hearing device support provider. The hearing device support provider may comprise a person knowledgeable in hearing devices, at the hearing device seller and/or at the hearing device manufacturer, and it may comprise a computer with a suitable software. Said automatically requesting said establishment of said communication connection will usually happen, when at least one change in internal status of the hearing device occurs, like a failure or a memory overflow or the upcome of a repeatedly occurring event. The hearing device may by itself decide upon the type of change in internal status, which hearing device support provider to connect to. Typically, at least one long-range communication connection is involved.

Abstract: Hearing aid fitted with a central processing unit (1) having peripherals (3E, 3A) connected to its input and output respectively. Each peripheral includes an identification unit (5) having an the output connected to a first input of a comparator (9). A second input of the comparator is connected to a read-only identification memory (11) containing identification features of the peripherals. An output of the comparator drives a configuration memory (15). As a result, the hearing aid self-identifies its current configuration based on the identification of the peripherals.

Abstract: A binaural hearing device system comprises a reception device (1) for one ear with at least two input acoustical/electrical converters (3a, 3b). Via a communication link (5) a signal (A1) which depends on both input converter's output signals is transmitted to a second device (7) for the other ear which comprises at least an output electrical/mechanical converter.

Abstract: A hearing instrument in accordance with the invention comprises an in-the-ear-canal component to be worn at least partially in the ear of a user. When the hearing instrument is worn, a remaining volume between the in-the-ear-canal component and the user's eardrum is defined. The hearing instrument includes at least one first microphone operable to convert an acoustic input signal incident on the hearing instrument into an electrical input signal, signal processing means operable to convert the electrical input signal into an electrical output signal on a signal path, and an electrical-to-acoustic converter (a receiver or a plurality of receivers with potentially different frequency characteristics). Between the remaining volume and surrounding atmosphere, a duct (such as a vent) is defined. A second receiver is in operative communication with the duct, i.e. an output directly opens out into the duct or to a sound conductor opening out into the duct.

Abstract: The hearing device system having at least one hearing device includes an input transducer for receiving incoming acoustical sound and converting the incoming acoustical sound into audio-representing signals; an output transducer for converting audio-representing signals obtained from the incoming acoustical sound into signals to be perceived by a user of the hearing device; and a transmitter for transmitting audio-representing signals obtained from the incoming acoustical sound to a long-range communication network. The method for maintaining a hearing device system includes the steps of receiving in the hearing device an incoming acoustical sound; converting in the hearing device the incoming acoustical sound into audio-representing signals; and transmitting the audio-representing signals from the hearing device to a long-range communication network. The audio-representing signals may be received by a hearing device support provider.

Abstract: The hearing system comprises at least one request-receiving unit for receiving requests for assistance from a user of said hearing system and an assistance unit operationally connected to said request-receiving unit adapted to carrying out an assistance function providing assistance for said user. Preferably, said assistance unit is adapted to carrying out an analysis of a current status of at least one device of said hearing system. Preferably, said assistance unit is furthermore adapted to attempting to correct said current status if a faulty or inappropriate current status has been detected. Preferably, the hearing system comprises a communication interface, wherein said assistance unit is adapted to attempting to establish a communication link to a remote assistance provider using said communication interface.

Abstract: In order to switch between different hearing programs to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, a method for adjusting a hearing device, in which one of several possible hearing programs can be selected in order to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, the method comprising the steps of detecting a desired hearing program change, changing parameters (b1, . . . , bm) of a transfer function provided between a microphone (M1) and a receiver of the hearing device in order to adapt it to the detected hearing program change, adjusting the parameters (b1, . . . , bm) to be changed from a momentary value to a desired value in such a manner that a smooth transition is perceived by the hearing device user while changing from a momentary hearing program to the desired hearing program, whereas each of the smooth transition is individually adjustable.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a hearing device having an electroacoustic output transducer worn at a user's ear or in a user's ear canal, the method including: measuring the electrical impedance of the output transducer; analyzing the measured electrical impedance of the output transducer in order to determine at least one parameter from the length and diameter of tubing that extends into the user's ear canal and is connected to the transducer, and adjusting operation parameters of the hearing device based upon the results of the determination so as to optimize acoustical performance of the hearing device.