Sivantos Pte. Ltd.

Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.

Maja Serman

Ulrich Giese

Eghart Fischer

Cecil Wilson

Sebastian Pape

Henning Puder

Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi

Marko Lugger

Roland Barthel

Robert Bäuml

Ronny Hannemann

Dirk Junius

Nadine Seubert

Stefan Handrick

Claudia Pischel

Ivine Kuruvila

Ulrich Hoppe

In a method for fitting a hearing device, a signal amplification is set or adapted on the basis of an ototoxic hearing loss. An input transducer picks up an acoustic signal and converts it into an input signal, a signal processing device processes the input signal and generates an output signal, and an output transducer converts the output signal into a sound signal. The signal processing of the signal processing device is set or adapted in dependence on the ototoxic hearing loss of the hearing device user.

Process for fitting a hearing device

A hearing system includes a hearing instrument for capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument. The captured sound signal is processed, and the processed sound signal is output to a user of the hearing instrument. In a speech recognition step, the captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. In a speech enhancement procedure performed during recognized speech intervals, the amplitude of the processed sound signal is periodically varied according to a temporal pattern that is consistent with a stress rhythmic pattern of the user. A method for operating the hearing instrument is also provided.

Hearing system including a hearing instrument and method for operating the hearing instrument

A hearing system includes a hearing instrument and a method for operating the hearing instrument. Therein, a sound signal is captured from an environment of the hearing instrument. The captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks. The captured sound signal is analyzed, during recognized own-voice intervals, to determine a rate of speech of the user. The captured sound signal is processed in dependence of a set of signal processing parameters, and the processed sound signal is output to a user of the hearing instrument. The set of signal processing parameters is adapted if the determined rate of speech falls below a threshold.

Hearing system containing a hearing instrument and a method for operating the hearing instrument

A system response of an individual listener's brain to a sound signal stimulus is estimated. The system response represents the generation of an electroencephalography signal measured at a given measuring point of the listener's head by the sound signal stimulus. A sound signal with the sound signal stimulus is presented to the ear of the listener. An audio signal corresponding to the sound signal is generated, and audio signal data is extracted from the audio signal with a measuring electrode that measures an electroencephalography training signal. A measurement data set is generated from the first electroencephalography training signal. A noise signal is measured on the listener's head while the first sound signal impinges on the listener's ear. A Gaussian conditional probability density function taken as the system response of the listener's brain to the sound signal stimulus, with respect to the given measurement point.

Method of estimating a system response of an individual listener's brain to a sound signal stimulus

A hearing system contains a hearing instrument and the hearing instrument is configured to support the hearing of a hearing-impaired user. The hearing instrument is operated via an operating method. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument, processing the captured sound signal to at least partially compensate the hearing-impairment of the user and outputting the processed sound signal to the user. The captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. During recognized speech intervals, at least one time derivative of an amplitude and/or a pitch of the captured sound signal is determined. The amplitude of the processed sound signal is temporarily increased, if the at least one derivative fulfills a predefined criterion.

A method operates a hearing instrument that is worn in or at the ear of a user. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument; analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, and foreign-voice intervals, in which at least one different speaker speaks; and determining, from the recognized own-voice intervals and foreign-voice intervals, at least one turn-taking feature. From the at least one turn-taking feature a measure of the sound perception by the user is derived. Predefined action for improving the sound perception is taken if the measure or the at least one turn-taking feature fulfill a predefined criterion.

Method for operating a hearing instrument and a hearing system containing a hearing instrument

Individual adjustment of a hearing apparatus, and in particular a hearing aid, is improved by testing the auditory sensory memory of a user of the hearing apparatus. At least one test result is obtained and the hearing apparatus is adjusted in dependence on the at least one test result. The test person must detect, perceive and be able to reproduce changes in a signal.

Method of adjusting a hearing apparatus with the aid of the sensory memory

Hearing apparatuses, in particular hearing aids, have improved intelligibility. This is accomplished by a method for amplifying a speech signal for a hearing apparatus by detection of an input sound, determining an input level of the input sound and amplification of the input sound. A mean input level of the input sound is determined and it is established whether the input sound has a speech component. If not, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined first amplification characteristic. However, if a speech component is found, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined second amplification characteristic. The second amplification characteristic is formed in dependence on the mean input level such that amplification is increased with respect to first amplification characteristic in a predefined level interval below the mean input level.

Amplification of a speech signal in dependence on the input level

A hearing aid device has an input converter for receiving an input signal and converting the signal into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit for processing and frequency-dependent amplification of the electrical input signal and generating an electrical output signal, an output converter for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, and a sound detector facility for identifying sounds in a signal. Facilities increase an amplification above a normal amplification for a frequency range in which an identified sound contains signal components. Further facilities set the normal amplification of an electrical input signal in dependence on a signal frequency. The amplification is restricted to a maximum amplification in a specific frequency range. The amplification exceeds the normal amplification or the maximum amplification for the duration of the identified sound and at most for a duration which lies below a setting time of a feedback whistling.

Hearing aid device and method for operating a hearing aid device

The understanding of speech is to be improved in cases of hearing loss in which certain frequency ranges can no longer be perceived even at high volume or amplification, as applicable. A frequency transposition is performed on an input signal coming into a hearing aid and specific features of an electrical input signal are detected and a transposed signal is filtered as a function of the specific features detected in the electrical input signal. The hearing aid provides appropriate facilities for detecting specific features of the electrical input signal and filtering facilities for filtering the transposed signal. The objective of this is to detect particular properties of the input signal, in particular signal properties which are characteristic of fricatives, which may possibly be lost as a result of the frequency transposition, and at least partially to restore them in the transposed signal.

Method for improving the comprehensibility of speech with a hearing aid, together with a hearing aid

A circuit for operating a hearing device with a variable operating parameter is disclosed. A storage device for storing operating parameter settings in a starting situation as well as in a target situation and a control unit, which implements a matching of the operating parameter according to a setting of the starting situation to the operating parameter settings of the target situation, is provided. Further, a connection device for connection to a control element and a data processing device for influencing the operating parameter by a user of the hearing device, is provided. The control unit performs the matching of the operating parameter with a minimal matching rate in time segments in which the operating parameter is often influenced by the control element or data processing device, and with a higher matching rate in time segments, in which the operating parameter is rarely influenced or not influenced at all by the control element or data processing device.

Circuit for operating a hearing device and hearing device

An earphone facility is proposed to reduce feedback in hearing devices with an external earphone. The earphone facility includes an earphone, which is embodied to convert electrical signals, and an earpiece, which lies snugly against the auditory canal when the earphone facility is being worn. A stem is attached to the earphone, having a smaller circumference than the smallest circumference of the earphone. Also a support element is disposed between the stem and an internal wall of the earpiece, said support element holding the stem in the earpiece in a movable manner. With this structure vibrations of the earphone are barely transmitted to the earpiece so that feedback is ultimately reduced.

Earphone facility with vibration-isolated earphone

The wearing comfort and acoustics in an external receiver, in particular in a cymba hearing device, are to be improved. A receiver facility with a receiver, which is embodied to convert the electrical signals into acoustic signals, and an earpiece, which adjusts to an auditory canal when the hearing apparatus is being worn, are thus proposed. A base part is also provided, to which the earpiece is fastened and to which the receiver is moveably fastened at least in respect of a section of the base part. The mobility of the receiver relative to the earpiece decouples the wearing function of the earpiece relative to a centering function in respect of the receiver, as a result of which the wearing comfort and acoustics are improved.

Receiver facility with a moveable receiver

A receiver of a hearing apparatus, especially of a hearing device, is proposed. The receiver is sufficiently centered in an auditory canal with an earpiece. The earpiece for inserting into the auditory canal has a first hollow-cylindrical body and a second hollow-cylindrical body that is arranged coaxially with the first body and surrounds the first body, as well as one or more bars that connect the two bodies to each other. On the one hand the bars ensure sufficient stability and on the other certain pliability and in addition they allow ventilation of the space in front of the eardrum.

Growing community of inventors

Erlangen-Buckenhof, Germany

Maja Serman