Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HEARING AID SYSTEMS
The present invention relates to hearing aid systems and more particularly,
relates to a
method and a system for upgrading/downgrading and fitting a hearing aid.
Hearing aid systems include hearing aid devices which patients use to pick up
desired
sounds, process them, and direct them into their ears to facilitate their
hearing. The
processing system of the hearing aid device is normally adjusted to fit a
specific hearing
loss.
Adjustment of hearing aid devices to fit a patient is labourious and time
intensive. A
hearing professional who is engaged in the fitting of hearing aid devices
must, during a
session with a patient, have on hand equipment to adjust the hearing aid
devices. Such
equipment could include programming hardware and software, interface hardware
and
software, and connector cables and the like.
Hearing aid devices come with many different features and thus, there are a
number
of different parameters which are possible to adjust in a hearing aid. A
problem which can
arise is that the wearer of the hearing aid may, through time, find that the
hearing aid is not
properly adjusted and in order to make such adjustments, the wearer must
return to the
specialist for such adjustment. Naturally, this is both time consuming and
expensive for the
hearing aid user.
A frequent problem which arises is that the patient, upon being diagnosed with
a
hearing problem, could purchase a very low end model of hearing aid. However,
over time,
the patient may require or want further features and accordingly, this
requires the purchase
of an upgraded model. The patient must go through the process of arranging
several
appointments for the purchase and the fitting of the new hearing aid device.
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A still further problem which can arise is that when the patient goes to the
hearing
professional for adjustment of the hearing aid, the availability of many
different types of
hearing aid devices may mean that the hearing professional is not well versed
in the
adjustment of a particular model. In such a case, the hearing professional
must contact the
manufacturer and obtain assistance in adjusting the device over the phone or
return the
hearing device to the manufacturer for adjustment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid system which
includes
a hearing aid device which is upgradeable/downgradeable through the use of the
internet.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid
system wherein
adjustment of the hearing aid device may be done remotely through the
internet.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid
system and a
method wherein a setup can be employed either for general or specific learning
and training
purposes.
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system for adjustment of a hearing aid
device.
Referring to the drawing in greater detail, as shown in Figure 1 there may be
provided an arrangement wherein there is provided a first server generally
designated by
reference numeral 10 comprising a monitor 12, and a keyboard 14. Naturally,
other input
devices apart from keyboard 14 may be utilized. For example input devices as
pointing
devices and/or verbal commands could equally well be employed as is well known
in the art.
The customer computer is generally designated by reference numera120 and will
also
include a keyboard 22 and/or other suitable input devices as is well known in
the art. An
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internet connection 30 is provided for communication between the two
computers. The
customer computer 20 could be located at the office of a hearing professional
who has sold
the hearing aid device to the patient. However, the computer could also be one
which the
user of the hearing aid device would employ. The internet connection may be
provided by
any suitable means as is well know in the art.
In greater detail, the hearing aids 32, 34 may be connected to a suitable
interface
device 26 such that the computer 20 will be able to adjust various parameters
of the hearing
aid devices and as well, to upgrade/downgrade the hearing device with new
features.
In the instance wherein the connection is between a hearing aid device
manufacturer
(and/or any other knowledgeable person) the setup may be used to serve as a
training means
for the person on the other end. Thus, the setup could be employed either for
general
learning and training purposes, or for training via the manufacturer showing
how to program
a specific hearing aid device.
As aforementioned, the setup described above could also be used such that a
patient
may upgrade/downgrade the standard of model to one having different
capabilities. Thus,
the manufacturer may build the capabilities into the hearing aid device and
from a remote
computer, a technician or the like may install an upgrade or downgrade or make
other
changes. The transaction could be carried out completely on the internet
including payment
for the upgrade/downgrade.
As used in this application, it will be understood that the term
"manufacturer" will
include any person or entity involved with the hearing aid. For example, a
service provider
may act in the place of the manufacturer. Similarly, the term "patient" will
include any user
of the hearing aid and the term "professional" will include any person or
entity dealing with
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the hearing aid.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of
illustration only and changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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