Method, computer program product, computer-readable medium, and hearing system for adjusting treble gain of a hearing device

Abstract

A method for adjusting the gain of a hearing device (12) is proposed, wherein the hearing device (12) receives a sound signal, amplifies the sound signal in a frequency-dependent manner, and outputs the sound signal to a user of the hearing device (12). The method comprises: receiving a demand (46) for increasing the treble of the output sound signal; determining a frequency-dependent headroom curve (58), which indicates up to which gain value the frequency of the sound signal can be amplified; comparing the headroom curve (58) and the gain curve (56) to determine whether the gain curve (56) is below the headroom curve (58) within the treble range (62) of the frequency, the gain curve (56) determining which gain is applied to the sound signal at which frequency; increasing the gain curve (561, 562) within the treble range (62) when the gain curve (56) is below the headroom curve (58); and reducing the frequency of the sound signal when the gain curve (562) has reached the headroom curve (58) within the treble range (62), such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the treble range (62) to an intermediate range (60) of frequencies below the treble range (62).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, a computer program, a computer-readable medium, and a hearing system for adjusting the gain of a hearing device. Background Art

[0002] Hearing devices are generally small and complex devices. A hearing device may include a processor, a microphone, a speaker, a memory, a housing, and other electronic and mechanical components. Some example hearing devices are behind-the-ear (BTE) devices, receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices, in-the-ear (ITE) devices, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) devices, and invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) devices. A user may prefer one of these hearing devices over another based on hearing loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs, and budget.

[0003] Hearing devices typically have a function (or so-called modifier) for manually adjusting the sound output of the hearing device. For example, the overall volume, treble, and bass can be adjusted by such a modifier.

[0004] Generally, a user desires to modify the perception of high-frequency signal information and, to this end, uses a treble modifier. Generally, these high-frequency / treble modifiers are pure gain modifiers, which may be limited by a maximum gain related to the input volume. Often, the gain can only be increased for very loud sounds. In this way, the result of the user's tuning action is not to make soft sounds to normal sounds louder, but to make loud sounds harsher. Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to improve the audible effect of the treble modifier of a hearing device.

[0006] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Other exemplary embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for adjusting the gain of a hearing device. The hearing device may be a device as described above. The hearing device may be a hearing aid adapted to compensate for a user's hearing loss. The hearing device may be adapted to receive a sound signal, for example, using a microphone and / or via radio transmission, to amplify the sound signal frequency-dependently into an output sound signal, and to output the output sound signal to the ear of a user of the hearing device, for example, using a speaker and / or a so-called receiver.

[0008] The method described herein may be automatically performed by the hearing device and, optionally, by a mobile device in data communication with the hearing device.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method includes: receiving a demand for increasing the treble of the output sound signal. The demand can be generated by using a knob of the hearing device and / or by using a user interface of a mobile device that is communicatively interconnected with the hearing device. It should be noted that a demand for reducing the treble is also discussed below. Such a demand can be a value such as +1 and -1 and / or can be derived when increasing and / or decreasing the treble modifier value.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method includes: determining a frequency-dependent headroom curve that indicates to which gain value the frequency of the sound signal can be amplified. The headroom curve can also depend on the input volume of the sound signal. The headroom curve can be determined according to a table and / or by using a function, and the table and / or the function can be stored in the hearing device.

[0011] The headroom curve can be set depending on the user (i.e., the user's hearing loss) and / or the hearing device. For example, depending on the occlusion of the user's ear canal, different earbud parts can result in different headroom curves.

[0012] Generally, for the present method, the headroom curve can be determined only in the treble range of frequencies and optionally can be determined in the midrange of frequencies. The treble range can include frequencies above 4 kHz, and the midrange can include frequencies between 2 kHz and 4 kHz. The midrange and / or the treble range (and especially the lower and upper ends of these frequencies) can depend on the user's hearing loss and / or the determined headroom curve.

[0013] Generally, a curve as described herein (e.g., the headroom curve or the gain curve described below) can define a function that determines a specific gain for a specific input frequency. Such a curve can be defined by a set of points, and other values of the curve can be determined by interpolation between these points. For example, the amplification of the hearing device can be performed in frequency bands, and values can be provided for each frequency band.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: comparing the headroom curve and the gain curve to determine whether the gain curve is below the headroom curve in the treble range of frequencies, where the gain curve determines which gain is applied to the sound signal at which frequency. The gain curve can be a set of values that encode at which frequency the sound signal is amplified with which gain value. Like the headroom curve, the gain curve can depend on the input volume of the sound signal.

[0015] When all values of the gain curve in the treble range are below the corresponding values of the headroom curve, the gain curve can be below the headroom curve. When one value of the gain curve in the treble range is above the corresponding value of the headroom curve, the gain curve can be above the headroom curve.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: when the gain curve is below the headroom curve, increasing the gain curve in the high-frequency range. By comparison, it can be determined whether there is room for increasing the gain in the high-frequency range. When there is room, the value of the gain curve can be increased, and the user can hear an increase in the loudness of the high-frequency sound.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: when the gain curve has reached the headroom curve in the high-frequency range, decreasing the frequency of the sound signal such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the high-frequency range to an intermediate range of frequencies lower than the high-frequency range.

[0018] When there is no room for further increasing the gain in the high-frequency range, a frequency decrease can be applied in the intermediate range and the high-frequency range. The frequency decrease can refer to changing the frequency of the sound signal in the frequency range in such a way that higher frequencies in the frequency range are mapped to lower frequencies. For example, the lower end of the frequency range can remain the same, and the upper end can be mapped to a reduced upper end between the lower end and the upper end. The values between the lower end and the upper end can be mapped in a continuous manner. In this way, the frequency decrease can also include frequency compression. The lower end, the upper end, and the reduced upper end can be stored as frequency decrease parameters in the hearing device. When frequency compression occurs, the frequency decrease parameters can also be regarded as frequency compression parameters.

[0019] In this way, frequencies with lower headroom in the high-frequency range are mapped to frequencies with available higher headroom. Generally, the value of the headroom curve in the high-frequency range is less than the value in the intermediate range. In addition, the user's hearing loss is usually higher at higher frequencies, and the frequency can be moved to an area where the user's perception is better.

[0020] It is also possible that a frequency decrease has already been set in the hearing device. In this case, a second frequency decrease can be applied to the already existing frequency decrease. This can be achieved by increasing the already existing frequency decrease.

[0021] The gain curve can be adjusted to an adjusted gain curve and / or the frequency decrease parameters stored in the hearing device and specifying the frequency decrease can be adjusted to adjusted frequency decrease parameters. Then, these modified data can be applied to the sound processor of the hearing device. In this case, the method can further include: applying the adjusted gain curve and / or the adjusted frequency decrease parameters to the sound processor of the hearing device such that the sound signal processed by the hearing device and output by the hearing device to the user is amplified according to the adjusted gain curve and / or the adjusted frequency decrease parameters.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gain curve is additionally increased in the middle range, and the frequencies of the sound signals in the high - frequency range are shifted to this middle range. As in the high - frequency range, there may be more room for increasing the gain of the headroom curve in the middle range.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: receiving a demand for reducing the high frequencies of the output sound signal; and determining whether the frequency of the sound signal is reduced such that the frequency of the sound signal is shifted from the high - frequency range to a middle range below the high - frequency range. When the frequency reduction is higher than a threshold, the frequency reduction is reduced. When the user wishes to reduce the loudness of the high frequencies, the perceived loudness may be caused by the frequency reduction of the frequencies in the high - frequency range. In this case, the perceived loudness of these frequencies can be achieved by reducing the frequency reduction.

[0024] The frequency reduction in this step may be generated by a previously applied demand for increasing the high frequencies and / or may be caused by settings (e.g., fitting parameters) in the hearing device. For example, the threshold compared with the actual frequency reduction may be the fitted frequency reduction.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the frequency reduction is below the threshold, the gain curve in the high - frequency range is reduced. However, when a demand for reducing the high - frequency gain is received, the gain in the high - frequency range may also be reduced only.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: receiving a high - frequency modifier value in the hearing device, the high - frequency modifier value indicating an offset of the high - frequency amplification relative to a neutral setting, the neutral setting including a preset gain curve and a preset frequency reduction. Generally, the volume modifier value can be selected by the user of the hearing device. For example, the hearing device and / or the mobile device that communicates with the user provides a user interface for selecting the volume modifier value. The high - frequency modifier value may be selected from an integer range. For example, the first value may be negative, the neutral value may be 0, and the second value may be positive.

[0027] The neutral setting may include a preset and fitted gain curve and / or an unmodified gain curve, which can be used when no modifier is applied. The preset and fitted gain curve and / or the unmodified gain curve may be stored in the memory of the hearing device. The neutral setting may also include preset and fitted frequency reduction parameters and / or unmodified frequency reduction parameters, which may also be stored in the memory of the hearing device. For example, the preset and fitted gain curve and / or frequency reduction parameters and / or unmodified gain curve and / or frequency reduction parameters may have been fitted to the hearing loss of the user of the hearing device.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the treble modifier value increases and / or decreases, a demand for increasing and / or decreasing the treble of the output sound signal is received. The demand can be determined by comparing the newly received treble modifier value with the actually applied treble modifier value.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the treble modifier value is within a first range above the neutral value of the treble modifier value, the gain curve is increased such that the gain curve remains below the clipping curve. The first range can be regarded as a treble amplification range and / or amplification within this range can be selected such that the space between the preset gain curve for the neutral treble value and the clipping curve is used for gain increase.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the treble modifier value is within a second range above the first range of the treble modifier value, the frequency of the sound signal is decreased such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the treble range to an intermediate range below the treble range. The second range can be regarded as a treble frequency decrease range. The second range can be selected such that the gain curve has reached the clipping curve within the treble range and such that the frequency decrease is used to achieve further perceived amplification of the treble sound.

[0031] Within the second range of the treble modifier value, the gain curve is additionally increased within the intermediate range and the frequency of the sound signal within the treble range is moved to this intermediate range.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: when the treble modifier is below the neutral value and the frequency decrease of the sound signal from the treble range to the intermediate range exceeds a threshold, reducing the frequency decrease. As described above, when a treble modifier value below the neutral value is selected, the frequency decrease and / or gain within the intermediate range can be reduced.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate range and the treble range are selected such that the headroom within the intermediate range is higher than the headroom within the treble range. As already mentioned, there can be such a region at higher frequencies: in this region, the clipping curve decreases with increasing frequency. When the intermediate range and the treble range are selected within this region, the headroom within the intermediate range can be higher than the headroom within the treble range. In this way, it can be utilized that the frequency-decreased sound signal can be amplified more within the intermediate range than within the treble range.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: providing a user interface to a user's mobile device, wherein the user interface includes a treble control element that can be changed by the user to select a need for increasing and decreasing the treble of an output sound signal. A mobile device carried by the user (e.g., a smart phone or a tablet computer) can communicate data with the hearing device. The mobile device can provide a computer program for adjusting parameters in the hearing device. The computer program can include a graphical user interface having a control element (e.g., a slider) for setting a treble modifier value. For example, a treble modifier value can be selected using the treble control element.

[0035] When the user has selected a need for increasing and decreasing the treble and / or the treble modifier value, the selected value can be sent from the mobile device to the hearing device. All other method steps described above regarding receiving the need, etc. can be performed by the hearing device.

[0036] Other aspects of the present invention relate to a computer program for controlling the gain of a hearing device, which when executed by a processor is adapted to perform the steps of the method described above and below and to a computer-readable medium in which such a computer program is stored.

[0037] For example, the computer program can be executed in a processor of the hearing device, which can be carried by a person, for example, behind the ear. The computer-readable medium can be the memory of the hearing device. The computer program can also be at least partially executed by a processor of the mobile device, and the computer-readable medium can be the memory of the mobile device. The steps of the method can be performed by the hearing device, and other steps of the method can be performed by the mobile device.

[0038] Generally, the computer-readable medium can be a floppy disk, a hard disk, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) storage device, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a flash memory. The computer-readable medium can also be a data communication network that allows downloading of program code, for example, the Internet. The computer-readable medium can be a non-transitory medium or a transitory medium.

[0039] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a hearing system adapted to perform the method described above and below. The hearing system can include a hearing device and optionally a mobile device that provides the user interface described above. The hearing device and / or the mobile device can include a processor and a memory in which the computer program is stored. The hearing device can include a microphone for acquiring a sound signal, and the sound signal is amplified and / or reduced in a frequency-dependent manner using the method.

[0040] It must be understood that the features of the methods described above and below can be features of the computer programs, computer-readable media, and hearing systems described above and below, and vice versa.

[0041] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 A hearing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0044] Figure 2 A flowchart of a method for controlling a hearing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] Figure 3 Shows having Figure 2 A graph of the gain curve used in the method of.

[0046] Figure 4 Shows having Figure 2 Another graph of the gain curve used in the method of.

[0047] The reference numerals used in the drawings and their meanings are listed in abstract form in the list of reference numerals. In principle, the same parts have the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0048] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0049] 10 Hearing system

[0050] 12 Hearing device

[0051] 14 Mobile device

[0052] 15 Portion behind the ear

[0053] 16 Portion inside the ear

[0054] 18 Tube

[0055] 20 Microphone

[0056] 22 Sound processor

[0057] 24 Sound output device

[0058] 26 Processor

[0059] 28 Knob

[0060] 30 Memory

[0061] 32 Transmitter / receiver

[0062] 34 Transmitter / Receiver

[0063] 36 Processor

[0064] 38 Memory

[0065] 40 Graphical User Interface

[0066] 42 Display

[0067] 44 Slider

[0068] 46 Requirement for treble modification, treble modifier value

[0069] 48 Neutral treble modifier value

[0070] 50 First treble modifier value range

[0071] 52 Second treble modifier value range

[0072] 54 Third treble modifier value range

[0073] 56 Preset gain curve

[0074] 56 1 Increased gain curve

[0075] 56 2 Increased gain curve

[0076] 56 3 Increased gain curve

[0077] 56 -1 Decreased gain curve

[0078] 56 -2 Decreased gain curve

[0079] 58 Clearance curve

[0080] 60 Intermediate range

[0081] 62 Treble range

[0082] 64 Preset frequency reduction

[0083] 64’ Modified frequency reduction

[0084] 66 Input frequency range

[0085] 68 Reduced and / or compressed frequency range

[0086] 68’ Modified reduced and / or compressed frequency range

[0087] 70 Lower end

[0088] 72 Upper end

[0089] 74 Reduced upper end

[0090] 74’ Further reduced upper end Detailed implementation manner

[0091] Figure 1 The hearing system 10 is schematically shown with a hearing device 12 in the form of a behind-the-ear device and a mobile device 14. It must be noted that the hearing device 12 is a specific embodiment, and the method described herein can also be performed by other types of hearing devices (e.g., in-the-ear devices).

[0092] The hearing device 12 includes a portion 15 on the back of the ear and a portion 16 to be placed in the user's ear canal. The portion 15 and the portion 16 are connected by a tube 18. In the portion 15, a microphone 20, a sound processor 22, and a sound output device 24 (e.g., a speaker) are provided. The microphone 20 can acquire the user's ambient sound and can generate a sound signal, the sound processor 22 can amplify the sound signal, and the sound output device 24 can generate a sound that is guided through the tube 18 and the in-ear portion 16 into each ear canal of the user.

[0093] The hearing device 12 may include a processor 26 that is adapted to adjust the parameters of the sound processor 22, where the parameters control the amplification related to the frequency and volume of the sound signal and optionally the frequency reduction of the sound signal. These parameters may include parameters for the gain curve and frequency reduction parameters, etc.

[0094] All these parameters can be determined by a computer program running on the processor 26. For example, using the knob 28 of the hearing device 12, the user can select modifiers (e.g., bass, treble, noise suppression, dynamic volume, etc.), and can select the levels and / or values of these modifiers, which change the frequency-related gain, the volume applied to the sound signal by the sound processor 22, and / or the frequency reduction. All these functions can be implemented as a computer program stored in the memory 30 of the hearing device 12, where the computer program can be executed by the processor 26.

[0095] The hearing device 12 may include a transmitter / receiver 32 for (e.g., wireless) data communication with a transmitter / receiver 34 of a mobile device 14, which may be a smart phone or a tablet computer. The mobile device 14 may also be utilized to adjust the above-mentioned modifier and its level and / or value. This may be performed by a computer program running in a processor 36 of the mobile device 14 and stored in a memory 38 of the mobile device 14. The computer program may provide a graphical user interface 40 on a display 42 of the mobile device 14.

[0096] In the case of adjusting the treble, the graphical user interface 40 may include a slider 44 for selecting a treble modifier value 46, which is indicated by a line next to the slider 44. The selected treble modifier value 46 may be sent to the hearing device 12. Alternatively or additionally, the user may utilize the hearing device 12 itself (e.g., via a knob 28) to select the treble modifier value 46.

[0097] The hearing device 12 determines and / or adjusts the amplification of the sound signal as described above and below based on the treble modifier value 46 and / or may change the parameters of the sound processor 22 accordingly.

[0098] Figure 1 A neutral treble modifier value 48 and a plurality of ranges 50, 52, 54 of the treble modifier value are also shown, which will be described in more detail below.

[0099] Figure 2 A method for adjusting the gain of the hearing device 12 is shown, which may be performed by the hearing system 10.

[0100] In step S10, the user interface 40 is provided to the mobile device 14 and the treble modifier control element 44 is shown to the user. Then, the user may select a new treble modifier value 46. When the user has selected a new treble modifier value 46, the new treble modifier value 46 is sent from the mobile device 14 to the hearing device 12.

[0101] Alternatively, the user may utilize a user interface of the hearing device 12 (e.g., a knob 28) to select a new treble modifier value 46.

[0102] Finally, the new treble modifier value 46 is received in a computer program executed in the hearing device 12, and the computer program performs the following steps.

[0103] The new treble modifier value 46 received in the hearing device 12 may be regarded as a requirement 46 for increasing and / or decreasing the treble of the output sound signal.

[0104] Depending on the value range 50, 52, 54 in which the new treble modifier value 46 lies and / or the currently applied gain and / or frequency reduction of the hearing device 12, the method then continues with step S12, S14 or S16, with reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 which will be described.

[0105] Figure 3 and Figure 4 show a graph with a gain curve, in Figure 3 and Figure 4 in which the frequency is depicted horizontally and the gain vertically.

[0106] Both graphs show a preset gain curve 56 and a headroom curve 58. Generally, the gain curve 56 indicates at which frequency the sound signal is amplified by which value. The preset gain curve 56 can be a fitted gain curve 56 which may have been stored in the hearing device 12 during fitting of the hearing device 12. The headroom gain curve 58 indicates the maximum possible gain and / or the desired gain at the respective frequencies.

[0107] In Figure 3 and Figure 4 also shown are an intermediate range 60 of frequencies and a treble range 62. A need to increase and / or decrease the treble should result in a corresponding perceived increase in the volume of the input sound signal within the treble range 62. This is done in the method by actually increasing the gain at these frequencies and additionally by shifting the part of the sound signal within the treble range 62 into the intermediate range 60. Merely this shift can result in a perceived increase in the treble. Additionally, the gain can also be increased within the intermediate range 62.

[0108] The intermediate range 60 and the treble range 62 can be selected such that the headroom curve 58 within the intermediate range 60 is higher than the headroom curve 58 within the treble range 62, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 . Generally, the headroom curve 58 tends to decrease in the region of higher frequencies, due to the higher hearing loss of the user and / or due to physical reasons regarding parts 16 within the user's ear. With such a selection, as the frequency decreases, the part of the sound signal shifted from the treble range 62 into the intermediate range 60 can be further amplified.

[0109] Figure 3Also depicted is a possible preset frequency reduction 64. The frequency reduction 64 can change the frequencies of the sound signal within the input frequency range 66 such that the higher frequencies within the frequency range 66 are mapped to lower frequencies within the reduced and / or compressed frequency range 68. For example, the lower end 70 of the frequency ranges 66, 68 can remain the same, and the upper end 72 of the input frequency range 66 can be mapped to the reduced upper end 74 of the reduced frequency range 68, where the reduced upper end 74 is located between the lower end 70 and the upper end 72 of the input frequency range 66. The values between the lower end 70 and the upper end 72 can be mapped in a continuous manner. The lower end 70, the upper end 72, and the reduced upper end 74 can be stored in the hearing device 12 as frequency reduction parameters.

[0110] Return Figure 2 In the method of, at the end of step S10, a treble modifier value 46 is received in the hearing device 12. The treble modifier value 46 can indicate an offset of the treble amplification relative to a neutral value 48 (e.g., 0), where a neutral setting is applied to the sound processor of the hearing device 12. The neutral setting includes a preset gain curve 56 and a preset frequency reduction 64.

[0111] When the treble modifier value 46 increases, a demand for increasing the treble of the output sound signal can be received, and / or when the treble modifier value 46 decreases, a demand for decreasing the treble of the output sound signal can be received.

[0112] When the treble modifier value 46 is within the range 54 and / or below the neutral value 48, the method proceeds to step S12. In this case, the gain curve 56 within the treble range 62 is decreased, e.g., as indicated by the decreased gain curves 56 -1 and 56 -2 indicated.

[0113] It is also possible to reduce the frequency reduction 64 in the presence of a preset frequency reduction 64 (which is above a threshold). The rate of frequency reduction can be determined by the difference between the upper end 72 and the reduced upper end 74. When this rate is above the threshold, the reduced upper end can be moved to a higher frequency.

[0114] When the treble modifier value 46 is above the neutral value 48, the method proceeds to steps S14 and S16. In this case, at least within the treble range 62, a frequency - related and optionally volume - related headroom curve 58 is determined. The parameters for the headroom curve 58 can be stored in the hearing device 12, and based on these parameters, the hearing device 12 can calculate the support points of the headroom curve 58.

[0115] Also determined is the gain curve 56, 56 1 、562 Then, the clearance curve 58 is compared with the gain curves 56, 56 1 , 56 2 to determine whether the gain curve 56 is below the clearance curve 58 within the high frequency range 62.

[0116] As Figure 3 shown in, the gain curves 56, 56 1 are below the clearance curve 58, while the gain curve 56 2 has reached the clearance curve 58.

[0117] When the gain curves 56, 56 1 are below the clearance curve 58, the method proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the gain curves 56, 56 within the high frequency range 62 are increased. 1 This can be performed by adding a positive offset to the values of the gain curves 56, 56 within the high frequency range 62. In 1 , in the first step, the gain curve 56 is increased to the gain curve 56 Figure 3 , and in the second step, the gain curve 56 1 is increased to the gain curve 56 1 is increased to the gain curve 56 2 .

[0118] When the high frequency modifier value 46 is within the first range 50 of the high frequency modifier values that is above the neutral value 48, step S14 can be performed. Then the gain curves 56 1 , 56 2 are increased such that the gain curves remain below the clearance curve 58.

[0119] When the gain curve 56 2 has reached the clearance curve 58 within the high frequency range 62, the method proceeds to step S16. When the high frequency modifier value 46 is within the second range 52 of the high frequency modifier values, step S16 can be performed.

[0120] In this case, in the first step, the sound signal can be reduced or can be reduced more strongly such that the frequency of the sound signal is shifted from the high frequency range 62 to within the middle range 60. This is shown in Figure 4 by the modified frequency reduction and / or frequency compression 64'. The upper end 74 of the reduced range 68' of the reduction and / or compression can be further reduced to the value 74'. In this way, the part of the sound signal within the high frequency range 62 is perceived by the user within the middle range 62 where the user's hearing loss may be less and the sound signal can be perceived as louder.

[0121] In the second step, the gain curve 56 2can also be additionally increased to the gain curve 56 within the intermediate range 60 3 , the frequency of the sound signal within the high - frequency range 62 is shifted to this intermediate range 60.

[0122] The steps S14 and S16 of the method have been explained above with respect to the case where the user increases the treble modifier value 46. Conversely, when the user decreases the treble modifier value 46, a demand 46 for reducing the treble of the output sound signal is received in the hearing device.

[0123] In step S16, it can be determined whether the frequency of the sound signal has been reduced, and when the frequency reduction 64' is higher than a threshold and / or higher than a preset frequency reduction 64, the frequency reduction 64' can be reduced and / or reset to the original frequency reduction 64.

[0124] In step S14, when the frequency reduction 64 is lower than a threshold and / or has been set to a preset frequency reduction 64, the gain curve within the high - frequency range can be reduced, for example, from curve 56 2 to curve 56 1 to curve 56.

[0125] In step S18, the modified gain curve and the modified frequency reduction parameter are applied to the sound processor 22 of the hearing device 12. The sound signal (e.g., the sound signal acquired by the microphone 20) is processed accordingly by the hearing device 12. Then, the hearing device 12 outputs the processed sound signal using the sound output device 24.

[0126] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description should be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. By studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art and those practicing the claimed invention can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or controller or other unit can implement the functions recited in several items of the claims. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting the gain of a hearing device (12), the hearing device (12) receiving a sound signal, amplifying the sound signal in a frequency band into an output sound signal and outputting the output sound signal to a user of the hearing device (12), the method comprises: receiving a demand for increasing the treble of the output sound signal; determining a frequency-dependent headroom curve (58), the headroom curve (58) indicating to which gain value the frequency of the sound signal can be amplified, the headroom curve (58) indicating the maximum possible gain in the corresponding frequency; comparing the headroom curve (58) and a gain curve (56) to determine whether the gain curve (56) is below the headroom curve (58) within a treble range (62) of the frequency, the gain curve (56) determining which gain is applied to the sound signal at which frequency; when the gain curve (56) is below the headroom curve (58), increasing the gain curve within the treble range (62); when the gain curve has reached the headroom curve (58) within the treble range (62), decreasing the frequency of the sound signal such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the treble range (62) to an intermediate range (60) of frequencies below the treble range (62).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the gain curve is additionally increased within the intermediate range (60), and the frequency of the sound signal within the treble range (62) is moved to the intermediate range (60).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, receiving a demand for reducing the treble of the output sound signal; determining whether the frequency of the sound signal is decreased such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the treble range (62) to the intermediate range (60) below the treble range (62), when the decrease in the frequency of the sound signal is higher than a threshold, reducing the decrease in the frequency of the sound signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, when the decrease in the frequency of the sound signal is lower than the threshold, reducing the gain curve within the treble range.

5. The method according to claim 1, receiving a treble modifier value (46) in the hearing device (12), the treble modifier value (46) indicating an offset of treble amplification relative to a neutral value (48), the neutral value including a preset gain curve (56) and a preset decrease (64) in the frequency of the sound signal; wherein, when the treble modifier value (46) increases, a demand for increasing the treble of the output sound signal is received.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, when the treble modifier value (46) is within a first range (50) of treble modifier values above the neutral value (48), increasing the gain curve such that the gain curve remains below the headroom curve (58).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, When the treble modifier value (46) is within a second range (52) of the treble modifier value that is above the first range (50), reduce the frequency of the sound signal such that the frequency of the sound signal moves from the treble range (62) into the middle range (60).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, the gain curve is additionally increased within the middle range (60), and the frequency of the sound signal within the treble range (62) is moved into the middle range (60).

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein, when the treble modifier value (46) is below the neutral value (48) and the reduction in the frequency of the sound signal from the treble range (62) to the middle range (60) exceeds a threshold, reduce the reduction in the frequency of the sound signal.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein, the middle range (60) and the treble range (62) are selected such that the headroom curve (58) within the middle range (60) is higher than the headroom curve within the treble range (62).

11. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: providing a user interface (40) to the user's mobile device (14), wherein the user interface (40) includes a treble control element (44) that can be changed by the user to select a need for increasing and decreasing the treble of the output sound signal; sending the selected need to the hearing device (12).

12. A computer program product comprising a computer program for controlling the gain of a hearing device (12), the computer program being adapted to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when executed by a processor (26).

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for controlling the gain of a hearing device (12), wherein, the computer program is adapted to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when executed by a processor (26).

14. A hearing system (10) comprising a hearing device (12), wherein, the hearing system (10) is adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. The hearing system (10) according to claim 14, wherein, the hearing system (10) includes a mobile device (14) providing a user interface (40) for selecting a need for increasing and decreasing the treble of the output sound signal.

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