Preprogrammed hearing assistance device with user selection of program

A method for improving perception of sound by a person using a hearing assistance device contained in a housing configured to be worn on, in or behind the ear of the person, the method comprising:

• (a) storing a plurality of audio processing programs in a memory device in the housing, the audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;
• (b) making the initial-tuning programs available for selection by the person;
• (c) selecting one of the initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while the hearing assistance device is in an initial-tuning mode, the selecting accomplished by operation of a selection device disposed in or on the housing by the person;
• (d) operating the hearing assistance device using the selected initial-tuning program while in the initial-tuning mode;
• (e) after a period of time operating in the initial-tuning mode, making one or more of the fine-tuning programs and the initial-tuning program selected in step (c) available for selection by the person;
• (f) selecting one of the fine-tuning programs or the initial-tuning program selected in step (c) to be used in processing the digital audio signals, the selecting accomplished by operation of the selection device disposed in or on the housing by the person;
• and
• (g) operating the hearing assistance device using the program selected in step (f).

A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to be worn on, in or behind the ear of the person;
• means for storing a plurality of audio processing programs in a memory device disposed in the housing, the audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;
• means disposed in the housing for making the initial-tuning programs available for selection by the person;
• means disposed in the housing for selecting one of the available initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while the hearing assistance device is in an initial-tuning mode;
• means disposed in the housing for processing the digital audio signals using the selected initial-tuning program while in the initial-tuning mode;
• means disposed in the housing for counting occurrences of events that are indicative of the application of power to or removal of power from the hearing assistance device while in the initial-tuning mode;
• means disposed in the housing for determining whether a number of occurrences of events that are indicative of the application of power to or removal of power from the hearing assistance device exceeds a predetermined value;
• means disposed in the housing for making one or more of the fine-tuning programs and the previously selected initial-tuning program available for selection by the person;
• means disposed in the housing for selecting one of the available fine-tuning programs or the previously selected initial-tuning program to be used in processing the digital audio signals;
• and
• means disposed in the housing for processing the digital audio signals using the selected initial-tuning program or fine-tuning program.

A method for controlling a hearing assistance device disposed in a housing having a battery compartment door, wherein the hearing assistance device has three controls that are operable to control the hearing assistance device, the three controls consisting of a volume-up control, a volume-down control and a push button control, a controller for sensing open or closed states of the battery compartment door and states of the three controls, and a processor for operating in a configuration mode and in one or more other operational modes, wherein the processor is operable to execute a configuration control routine selected from a plurality of configuration control routines while in the configuration mode, the method comprising:

• (a) pressing one or more of the three controls continuously for an extended time while closing the battery compartment door;
• (b) the controller sensing one or more of the three controls being pressed continuously for at least a predetermined time during and after the closing of the battery compartment door;
• (c) the controller generating a first control signal based on completion of steps (b);
• (d) the processor entering the configuration mode based on the first control signal;
• (e) the controller sensing the opening and subsequent closing of the battery compartment door;
• (f) the controller generating a second control signal based on completion of step (e);
• and
• (g) the processor exiting the configuration mode and entering one of the other operational modes based on the second control signal.

A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person;
• memory disposed within the housing, the memory for storing a plurality of audio processing programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;
• a processor disposed within the housing and connected to the memory, the processor operable to execute one or more selected audio processing programs to process digital audio signals;
• a selection device disposed on the housing and connected to the processor, the selection device operable by the person to select one of the audio processing programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals;
• a digital-to-analog converter disposed within the housing, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals;
• and
• an audio output section disposed within the housing, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person,
• the audio output section further for generating one or more audible sounds that indicate to the person which one of the audio processing programs is currently selected for processing the digital audio signals,
• whereby the currently selected audio processing program can be determined without having to connect the apparatus to any external device.

A method for controlling the configuration of a hearing assistance device, wherein the hearing assistance device is disposed in a housing and includes at least three controls on the housing that are operable to control the hearing assistance device, the three controls consisting of a volume-up control, a volume-down control and a push button control, the hearing assistance device including a controller for sensing states of the three controls, and a processor that is operable to execute a configuration control routine selected from a plurality of configuration control routines, the method comprising:

• (a) operating the push button control a number of times to select one of the plurality of configuration control routines;
• (b) the processor executing a selected one of the plurality of configuration control routines as determined based on the number of times the push button control is operated;
• (c) operating the volume-up control or volume-down control to change a device configuration setting associated with the selected configuration control routine;
• and
• (d) the processor changing the device configuration setting based on the operation of the volume-up control or volume-down control.