Hearing assist device fitting method, system, algorithm, software, performance testing and training

A method for fitting a hearing assist device for a patient, comprising:

• conducting a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conducting a performance test to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient, in which the performance test assesses identification of sound source direction of speech;
• and
• providing a plurality of sound processing parameter values to a digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, in which the sound processing parameter values are a calculated function both of the hearing test result values and the performance test assessment.

A method for fitting a hearing assist device for a patient, comprising:

• conducting a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conducting a performance test to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient;
• and
• providing a plurality of sound processing parameter values to a digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, in which the sound processing parameter values are a calculated function both of the hearing test result values and the performance test assessment;
• in which two sets of sound processing parameter values are provided to the digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, a first baseline set for the patient to use in regular or high noise environments, and a second training set for the patient to use in low noise environments when hearing speech.

A computing device for fitting a hearing assist device for a patient, the computing having a screen and sound playback capabilities, the computing device being programmed to, with the use of calibrated headphones while the patient answers based on a plurality of different images presented on the screen:

• conduct a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and the patient selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conduct a performance test involving the different images presented on the screen to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient for understanding sounds other than speech, in which each sound in a series of a plurality of different sounds correlates to one of the different images presented on the screen;
• and
• calculate a plurality of sound processing parameter values as a function both of the hearing test result values and the performance test assessment.

A method for fitting a hearing assist device for a patient, comprising:

• conducting a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conducting a performance test to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient;
• questioning the patient regarding their preferred telephony ear and recording a preferred telephony ear response;
• and
• providing a plurality of sound processing parameter values to a digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, in which the sound processing parameter values are a calculated function of all of the hearing test result values, the performance test assessment, and the preferred telephony ear response.

A method for fitting a hearing assist device for a patient, comprising:

• conducting a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conducting a performance test to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient;
• inputting a gender of the patient;
• and
• providing a plurality of sound processing parameter values to a digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, in which the sound processing parameter values are a calculated function of all of the hearing test result values, the performance test assessment, and the gender of the patient, in which a hearing assist device for a female is provided with sound processing parameter values with less overall gain and loudness as compared to the sound processing parameter values which would be provided to a male with identical hearing test result values, and in which a hearing assist device for a male is provided with more gain in the range of 1-4 kHz as compared to the sound processing parameter values which would be provided to a female with identical hearing test result values.

A method for fitting a hearing assist device for a hearing impaired patient, comprising:

• conducting a hearing test to assess hearing in the ear for which the hearing assist device is being fitted by determining a plurality of hearing test result values, in which the hearing test is based upon intelligibility of speech using a plurality of sound processing parameter curves and selecting the sound processing parameter curve which provides the best intelligibility of speech;
• conducting a performance test to assess aural cognitive abilities of the patient;
• and
• providing a plurality of sound processing parameter values to a digital signal processor in the hearing assist device, in which the sound processing parameter values are a calculated function both of the hearing test result values and the performance test assessment
• in which the hearing assist device is used to improve the cognitive abilities of the patient to distinguish, recognize and understand speech in the presence of noise, further comprising:
• providing the digital signal processor with two sets of sound processing parameter values, the two sets comprising a first baseline set, and a training set with lower compression ratios than the first baseline set;
• and
• having the patient wear the hearing assist device, the wearing comprising:
• using the first baseline set of sound processing parameters when the patient is in regular or high noise environments, for a duration of at least 15 minutes during a day;
• and
• using the training set of sound processing parameters when the patient is in low noise environments when hearing speech, for a duration in the range of 5 minutes to 180 minutes during the day, so the patient's brain is presented with more noise relative to speech and such that the patient's brain better learns to distinguish between speech and noise when using the hearing assist device.