Abstract: A device as hearing aid to be worn in the ear or in or at the auditory canal comprises at least a sound or acoustic exit opening with a protection element (10) to prevent the contamination of the device. The protection element (10) comprises a thin, at least almost flexible or elastic membrane (15) made out of a thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: A hearing instrument receiver system for operation in an ear canal of a user for converting audio signals into sound, comprising a lateral receiver, a medial receiver and a flexible joint assembly connecting the medial end of the lateral receiver and the lateral end of the medial receiver in such a manner that the lateral receiver and the medial receiver are pivotable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal.

Abstract: A method for providing hearing assistance to a user by capturing input audio signals; estimating a speech level of the input audio signals and an ambient noise level of the input audio signals; applying a gain model to the input audio signals to transform the input audio signals into filtered audio signals, wherein, for a each ambient noise level, the gain varies as a function of the speech level and wherein the function varies according to the ambient noise level changing the ratio of the gain at low speech levels and at high speech levels as a function of the ambient noise level; wirelessly transmitting the filtered audio signals to a receiver unit forming or being connected to a user hearing stimulator, the stimulator being worn at or in the user's ear; and stimulating the user's hearing by the stimulator according to audio signals supplied by the receiver unit.

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: So as to put binaural beam-forming into practice selected acoustical situations are dealt with having minimum processing power and power consumption ability at a binaural hearing system. For near-to-ear acoustical sources the contra-lateral (7L) as well as the ipsi-lateral (7R) output electrical-to-mechanical converters of two hearing devices of the binaural hearing system are operated substantially exclusively in dependency from the output signal of the one ipsi-lateral input acoustical-to-electrical converter arrangement (3R).

Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing device (1) to individual needs of a hearing device user is disclosed. The hearing device (1) comprises an input transducer (2), a signal processing unit (3) and an output transducer (4), the signal processing unit (3) being operatively connected to the input transducer (2) as well as to the output transducer (4), and the signal processing unit (3) defining an input/output behavior of the hearing device (1). The method comprising the steps of operationally connecting the hearing device (1) to a fitting device (5) comprising a display unit (6), displaying a hearing threshold level (22) of the hearing device user as a function of frequencies on the display unit (6), displaying characteristics of a predefined sound sample (25, 30) on the display unit (6), and adjusting the input/output behavior such that at least a part of the predefined sound sample (25, 30) lies above the hearing threshold level (22) at corresponding frequencies.

Abstract: The hearing system (1) comprises a first processing unit (2A); a second processing unit (2B); and a scheduling unit (3) for jointly scheduling tasks to be executed in said first processing unit (2A) and tasks to be executed in said second processing unit (2B). Preferably, the hearing system (1) comprises a first device (1A) comprising said first processing unit (2A); and a second device (1B) comprising said second processing unit (2B). The method for operating a hearing system (1) comprising a first (2A) and a second (2B) processing unit, comprises the step of jointly scheduling at least one task to be executed in said first processing unit (2A) and at least one task to be executed in said second processing unit (2B). If, during scheduling of a task to be executed in said first processing unit, tasks to be executed in said second processing unit can be considered, an improved performance of the hearing system (1) can be achieved, e.g, an improved time synchronization or an improved handling of obsolete tasks.

Abstract: The hearing device comprises a connector (2) having at least one electrical contact (6); and a user control (8); wherein said user control (8) comprises said at least one electrical contact (6). Typically, said connector is a connector for providing a communication connection to said hearing device. The user control can be a pushbutton switch. In one embodiment, said connector comprises at least two electrical contacts (6), and said user control comprises a shorting member (12) for shorting said at least two electrical contacts when operated. In one embodiment, said user control comprises an elastic member (14), which is deformed when said user control is operated, for resetting said user control into its original position. Through this, a small-size hearing device can be realized. The method of operating a hearing device comprises the step of using at least one electrical contact (6) of a connector (2) of said hearing device as a part of a user control (8) of said hearing device.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device comprising an input transducer (1), an output transducer (3) and a signal processing unit (2) for processing an output signal of the input transducer (1) to obtain an input signal for the output transducer (3) by applying a transfer function to the output signal of the input transducer (1) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: extracting features (fv) of the output signal of the input transducer (1), classifying the extracted features (fv) by at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek), weighting the outputs of the at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek) by a weight vector (w) in order to obtain a classifier output (co), adjusting at least some parameters of the transfer function in accordance with the classifier output (co), monitoring a user feedback (uf) that is received by the hearing device, and updating the weight vector (w) and/or one of the at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek) in accordance with the user feedback (uf).

Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid system with right and left ear microphone arrangements; right and left ear ambient sound signal processing units, right and left ear bone conduction output transducers for stimulating the user's right and left ear cochlea, respectively; a right and left ear cross-talk compensation filter units for generating right and left ear crosstalk compensation signals, respectively, from the processed audio signals of the respective signal processing unit according to an estimated transcranial transfer function; and means for subtracting the left ear cross-talk compensation signal from the processed audio signals of the right ear signal processing unit to generate the right ear output audio signals, and means for subtracting the right ear cross-talk compensation signal from the processed audio signals of the left ear signal processing unit to generate the left ear output audio signals.

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. A hearing device in which the method is implemented.

Abstract: A hearing system (1) capable of assisting a user of the hearing system (1) to find a location where satisfactory hearing performance is achievable is described. The hearing system (1) comprises at least one hearing device (11, 12) with an input transducer (20), an output transducer (40), and a processing unit (30) operatively connected to the input transducer (20) as well as to the output transducer (40). The hearing system (1) further comprises a first means (50) for determining from a signal of the input transducer (20) at least one parameter (60) representative of a current acoustic environment at a current location, and a second means (40, 200, 201) for indicating to a user of the hearing system (1) a degree of suitability of the current location to achieve satisfactory hearing performance based on the at least one parameter (60).

Abstract: A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, having at least one audio signal source; a transmission unit with a digital transmitter for wirelessly transmitting audio signals as data packets to a frame structure from the audio signal source; at least one ear-worn receiver unit for receiving the transmitted audio signals and a hearing stimulating mechanism, the receiver unit having a digital transceiver adapted to listen, and optionally transmit, during part of each frame and to sleep during the remainder of the frame; wherein the receiver unit has a capacitor for supplying current to the transceiver during listening or transmission operation, and a controlled current source including a control unit for controlling current flowing to the transceiver and the capacitor a manner preventing changes in the current flowing to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa.

Abstract: A method for adapting a hearing device (6, 7) to the hearing needs and preferences of an individual (U) is presented, wherein sound processing in said hearing device (6, 7) is programmable by means of adjustable parameters. The method comprises the steps of a) presenting at least one auditory test signal (1a) to said individual (U); b) capturing at least one image (2a) of at least a portion of said individual's body; c) analyzing said at least one image (2a); d) deducing from said image analysis whether or not said individual (U) has shown a reaction upon said presenting said at least one auditory test signal (1a) and, if yes, which reaction said individual (U) has shown; e) determining, in dependence of said at least one auditory test signal (1a) and of said reaction or lack of reaction, a setting for at least one of said adjustable parameters.

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 instrument comprises an openable cover lid, the cover lid comprising at least one electrical input element and at least one lid contact terminal arranged to physically and electrically contact at least one corresponding device contact terminal when the lid is in a closed position. The cover lid further comprises at least two electrical input, each of the at least two input elements being functionally associated with the impedance between the lid contact terminal and a further terminal, and the hearing instrument comprises means to infer the state of the input elements from said impedance. In a preferred embodiment, the number of input elements is equal to or larger than the number of lid contact terminals. In a further embodiment, the lid is the lid of a battery compartment of the hearing instrument, and in a closed position of the lid at least one of the input elements is in electrical contact with one of the terminals of a battery lying in the battery compartment.

Abstract: A hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing includes at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers can be placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. A behind-the-ear component and an external component can be provided for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear with a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component. The sound processing means can feed the first receiver with a first signal of a first central frequency and the second receiver with a second signal of a second central frequency. The signal processing means can be one or two signal processing units. A frequency separating filter can have an input operatively connected to an output of the signal processing unit.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing system (1) is described, the hearing system comprising a signal processor (12) controlled by settings of sound processing parameters referred to as current settings, wherein the current settings are stored in a first memory unit (18), and a second memory unit (19) comprises former settings.

Abstract: The method for adjusting a hearing device (11) to the hearing preferences of a user of the hearing device comprises a) adjusting at least one of N parameters (P1, P2), preferably with 2?N?4; b) obtaining a gain model (G), which is identical with the output of a fitting rationale (F) applied to a model audiogram (A), wherein the model audiogram depends on the N parameters and is independent of possibly existing audiogram values measured for the user; and c) using the gain model (G) or a gain model derived therefrom in said hearing device (11). Preferably, the model audiogram (A) is an approximation to an audiogram occurring in a pre-defined empirical sample of individual audiograms. The user preferably carries out the method by himself and without external equipment. A corresponding arrangement (1) is disclosed, too. A simple and efficient hearing device fitting can be achieved.

Abstract: In a hearing device with an audio signal processing stage (3, 7, 5) and an Rf signal processing stage (9, 11) the Rf signal processing stage is realized in one module (13a), whereas the audio signal processing stage is realized in a second module (13b). The two modules are releasably interlinked by means of a releasable positive locking link (15).