Abstract: A hearing aid having a microphone (10), a microcomputer (12) for digital signal processing of digitized microphone signals and an electroacoustic converter (14) for acoustic reproduction of the processed digitized signals, is equipped with at least one further sensor (16, 18) responsive to signals outside the acoustical range of audibility. These further sensor signals are processed according to a different program stored in a second memory (19) and supplied as additional data via an output (B2) of the microcomputer (12) preferably to the electro-acoustical converter (14). As a result, data such as the signals of a traffic light transmitter, signals from a paging system, or signals announcing a telephone call, door bell or the like, can be superimposed on the normal auditory functions. By appropriately coordinate signal trains, for example generated in accordance with the program stored in the second memory, a hearing-impaired person can easily distinguish among these additional functions.

Abstract: To match the operation of a digital hearing aid directly to user requirements, and to reprogram the hearing aid as the hearing aid and/or user response characteristics change, a digital data processing element (12) processing digitized audio signals is connected to a programmable memory such as an EEPROM or an EARAM which stores predetermined frequency vs. amplitude transfer functions in accordance with user requirements or preference and/or hearing aid operation. Additionally, a memory (ROM 17) is provided storing a test program which causes the digital processor to generate test frequencies or tones at varying amplitudes, so that the transfer function in the programmable memory (15) can be changed or modified by operation of a switch (19) which can be manually user-operated or automatically, for example by measuring stapedius reflexes.