Volume control for external devices and a hearing device

A hearing device, the hearing device comprising:

• a processor configured to receive an external audio signal from a client device;
• a microphone configured to provide an ambient signal;
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the hearing device to perform the following operations:
• determine, at the hearing device, whether the client device is implementing rich or simple volume control based on communication with the client device,
• wherein the rich volume control is associated with an ability of the client device to provide an ambient sound level and an external sound level associated with volume of a hearing device output signal, and
• wherein the simple volume control is associated with an ability of the client device to adjust only a master volume level associated with the volume of the hearing device output signal;
• if it is determined that the client device is implementing the rich volume control, modify, only the master volume at the hearing device;
• or
• if it is determined that the client device is implementing the simple volume control, modify a balance of ambient sound and external sound for the hearing device output signal based at least partially on the master volume level provided by the client device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a processor of a hearing device cause the hearing device to perform operations, the operations comprise:

• determining, at the hearing device, whether a client device is implementing rich or simple volume control based on communication with the client device,
• wherein the rich volume control is associated with an ability of the client device to provide an ambient sound level and an external sound level associated with volume of a hearing device output signal, and
• wherein the simple volume control is associated with an ability of the client device to adjust only a master volume level associated with the volume of the hearing device output signal;
• in response to determining the client device is implementing the rich volume control, modifying, only the master volume at the hearing device based on communications from the client device based on hearing device volume settings;
• or
• in response to determining the client device is implementing the simple volume control, modifying a balance of ambient sound and external sound for the hearing device output signal based at least partially on the master volume level provided by the client device.