Abstract: A method of operating a hearing system for conducting telephone calls as well as a hearing system capable of performing the proposed method. The hearing system includes a communication device (4) with a communication device microphone (3?) for picking up a first sound signal and providing a primary sidetone signal. The hearing system further includes a hearing device with a hearing device microphone for picking up a second sound signal and providing a secondary sidetone signal. A first amplification is applied to the primary sidetone signal and a second amplification is applied to the secondary sidetone signal. Adjusting of the first amplification is dependent on adjusting of the second amplification, or alternatively, adjusting of the second amplification is dependent on adjusting of the first amplification. The primary and secondary sidetone signals are then combined and subsequently output by a hearing device loudspeaker.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system having a first and second hearing assistance devices for hearing stimulation of first and second ears, each hearing assistance device having a first interface for wireless data exchange between the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device and a second interface for wireless reception of an external data stream from an external data stream source, each hearing assistance device being adapted to repeatedly exchange information concerning the charging status of the battery of the respective hearing assistance device with the other hearing assistance device in order to monitor the remaining battery lifetimes, wherein the hearing assistance devices are caused to switch the role of master and slave when the difference in the battery charges of the two devices exceeds a given threshold, with the hearing assistance device having the higher battery charge forming the new master after the role switching.

Abstract: A method of establishing a wireless network with a first hearing assistance device (10), a second hearing assistance device (11), and an external device (40), each device having a wireless network interface (20), the method having the steps of: establishing a communication link (30) between the first and second hearing assistance device, transmitting a remote pairing command from the first to the second hearing assistance device via the communication link, the remote pairing command being adapted to cause the second hearing assistance device to initiate pairing with the external device, pairing the second hearing assistance device and the external device upon an initiate pairing request transmitted by the second hearing assistance device, pairing the first hearing assistance device and the external device before or after the pairing of the second hearing assistance device and the external device.

Abstract: A method of operating a hearing system for conducting telephone calls as well as a hearing system capable of performing the proposed method. The hearing system includes a communication device (4) with a communication device microphone (3?) for picking up a first sound signal and providing a primary sidetone signal. The hearing system further includes a hearing device with a hearing device microphone for picking up a second sound signal and providing a secondary sidetone signal. A first amplification is applied to the primary sidetone signal and a second amplification is applied to the secondary sidetone signal. Adjusting of the first amplification is dependent on adjusting of the second amplification, or alternatively, adjusting of the second amplification is dependent on adjusting of the first amplification. The primary and secondary sidetone signals are then combined and subsequently output by a hearing device loudspeaker.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device worn by a hearing device user. The method includes picking up an audio signal (a) by an input transducer of the hearing device. The audio signal (a) includes a source signal (s) of a sound source (SS) and a disturbing signal (d) of a disturbing source (DS). The method also includes receiving a transmission signal (d_AIS) via an interface unit of the hearing device. The transmission signal (d_AIS) includes the disturbing signal (d) or at least characteristic features of the disturbing signal (d). The method also includes at least partially eliminating the disturbing signal (d) from the audio signal (a) by using the disturbing signal (d) transmitted by the transmission signal (d_AIS) or by using the characteristic features of the disturbing signal (d) transmitted by the transmission signal (d_AIS) for obtaining an adjusted audio signal (a*), and processing the adjusted audio signal (a*).

Abstract: A hearing assistance system having a first and second hearing assistance devices for hearing stimulation of first and second ears, each hearing assistance device having a first interface for wireless data exchange between the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device and a second interface for wireless reception of an external data stream from an external data stream source, each hearing assistance device being adapted to repeatedly exchange information concerning the charging status of the battery of the respective hearing assistance device with the other hearing assistance device in order to monitor the remaining battery lifetimes, wherein the hearing assistance devices are caused to switch the role of master and slave when the difference in the battery charges of the two devices exceeds a given threshold, with the hearing assistance device having the higher battery charge forming the new master after the role switching.

Abstract: Method for operating a hearing device (1) that is worn by a hearing device user (2), the method comprising the steps of receiving a transmission signal (4) comprising an audio signal (4) of a sound sources (S), determining a distance (d) between the sound source (S) and the hearing device (1), and generating an output signal supplied to an output transducer (8) of the hearing device (1) by at least taking into account the audio signal (4) of the transmission signal (3) and the distance (d). Further embodiments are directed to determining an angle (?) defined by a sagittal plane (5) of the hearing device user (2) and a line drawn between the hearing device (1) and the sound source (S). The angle (?) is additionally used to generate the output signal supplied to the output transducer (8) of the hearing device (1).

Abstract: The method for operating a hearing system comprises the steps of a) requesting (300) said hearing system to execute a functionality; and b) deciding (400) whether or not to execute the requested functionality. It preferably comprises the steps of c) checking (440) the current availability of the requested functionality; wherein the decision of step b) depends on the so-obtained current availability of the requested functionality, and d) executing the requested functionality, only if the requested functionality is currently available in said hearing system. The hearing system comprises at least one decision unit adapted to deciding whether or not to execute functionalities the hearing system is requested to execute. The invention can make it possible to form hearing systems from a wide range of devices.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device worn by a hearing device user. The method includes picking up an audio signal (a) by an input transducer of the hearing device. The audio signal (a) includes a source signal (s) of a sound source (SS) and a disturbing signal (d) of a disturbing source (DS). The method also includes receiving a transmission signal (d_AIS) via an interface unit of the hearing device. The transmission signal (d_AIS) includes the disturbing signal (d) or at least characteristic features of the disturbing signal (d). The method also includes at least partially eliminating the disturbing signal (d) from the audio signal (a) by using the disturbing signal (d) transmitted by the transmission signal (d_AIS) or by using the characteristic features of the disturbing signal (d) transmitted by the transmission signal (d_AIS) for obtaining an adjusted audio signal (a*), and processing the adjusted audio signal (a*).

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 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: Method for operating a hearing device (1) that is worn by a hearing device user (2), the method comprising the steps of receiving a transmission signal (4) comprising an audio signal (4) of a sound sources (S), determining a distance (d) between the sound source (S) and the hearing device (1), and generating an output signal supplied to an output transducer (8) of the hearing device (1) by at least taking into account the audio signal (4) of the transmission signal (3) and the distance (d). Further embodiments are directed to determining an angle (?) defined by a sagittal plane (5) of the hearing device user (2) and a line drawn between the hearing device (1) and the sound source (S). The angle (?) is additionally used to generate the output signal supplied to the output transducer (8) of the hearing device (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device. The method consists in that a point in time of the recording and/or a recording frequency as well as the information to be recorded, as data and/or parameters and/or adjustments of the hearing device are adjusted freely or are programmable, respectively. Furthermore, a hearing device is described that is suitable to use the method. By the present invention, a multitude of the parameters being adjustable in a hearing device can be checked or surveyed all together or selectively in real, i.e. actually existing acoustic environments in order to optimally adjust or adapt the hearing device afterwards, that means after the analysis by the fitter, for example.

Abstract: A method for wirelessly adjusting one or more hearing devices (1, . . . , 3) with a central unit (4) is presented, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a wireless network (6) wirelessly connecting the central unit (4) to hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), which are responsive to said wireless network (6), detecting said hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), identifying one or more of the detected hearing devices (1, . . . , 3, selecting one or more of the identified hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), establishing a wireless link from the central unit (4) to at least one of the identified hearing devices (1, . . . , 3), and adjusting the at least one identified hearing device (1, . . . , 3). Therewith, an audiologist is able to unambiguously assign one or two hearing devices (1, . . . , 3) in a fitting session, even if multiple hearing devices are within the range of the wireless network (6) or wireless transmitter, respectively.

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: 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: 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: The method for operating a hearing system comprises the steps of a) requesting (300) said hearing system to execute a functionality; and b) deciding (400) whether or not to execute the requested functionality. It preferably comprises the steps of c) checking (440) the current availability of the requested functionality; wherein the decision of step b) depends on the so-obtained current availability of the requested functionality, and d) executing the requested functionality, only if the requested functionality is currently available in said hearing system. The hearing system comprises at least one decision unit adapted to deciding whether or not to execute functionalities the hearing system is requested to execute. The invention can make it possible to form hearing systems from a wide range of devices.

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.