Method of supporting a user of a hearing device, hearing device and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for supporting a user (2) of a hearing device (4), wherein the hearing device (4) is individually adapted to the user (2) in a first adaptation session, in particular in the home country (HL) of the user (2), wherein adaptation data are generated during the first adaptation session, wherein the adaptation data are associated with the user (2) and / or the hearing device (4) and are stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted due to access restrictions, wherein a stay in a foreign country (FL) is automatically detected, and wherein, if a stay in a foreign country (FL) is automatically detected, a query is output to the user (2) as to whether the access restrictions should be changed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for supporting a user of a hearing device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hearing device and a computer program product. Background Art

[0002] Classic hearing aids for providing assistance to the hearing-impaired are usually referred to as hearing devices. However, in a broader sense, the term also refers to devices that are constructed to support people with normal hearing. Hearing devices for supporting people with normal hearing are also called "personal sound amplification products" or "personal sound amplification devices" (Personal Sound Amplification Device, "PSAD" for short). Unlike classic hearing aids, such hearing devices are not designed to compensate for hearing loss, but are specifically used to support and improve normal human hearing in specific hearing situations, such as to support animal observation so that animal sounds and other noises generated by animals can be better perceived, to support hunters in hunting, for sports reporters, to enable better speech and / or language understanding in complex background sound effects, for musicians, to reduce the burden on the auditory organs, and so on.

[0003] Regardless of the intended use, a hearing device generally has at least one input transducer, a signal processing device and an output transducer as essential components. In this case, the at least one input transducer is generally formed by an acoustic-electric transducer, such as a microphone, or by an electromagnetic receiver, such as an induction coil. In many cases, even a plurality of input transducers, such as one or more acoustic-electric transducers and electromagnetic receivers, are installed. Electroacoustic transducers, such as miniature loudspeakers (also called "earpieces") or electromechanical transducers, such as bone conduction earpieces, are generally used as output transducers. The signal processing device is generally realized by an electronic circuit realized on a printed circuit board and, independently of this, generally has an amplifier.

[0004] Furthermore, hearing devices are usually equipped with a transmitting and / or receiving unit which enables wireless communication with other electronic devices, in particular with other hearing devices (e.g. for forming a binaural hearing device system or a hearing aid system), remote controls, programming devices, mobile phones or smartphones. Wireless communication is usually carried out via electromagnetic waves in the radio range of 500 kHz to 5 GHz, for example in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 50 MHz, or, for example, using Bluetooth technology at approximately 2.4 GHz.

[0005] If the user purchases such a hearing device himself, the hearing device is usually adapted to the user's individual requirements and / or configured according to the user's wishes by a person skilled in the art (usually a hearing device acoustician) in a so-called fitting session (also referred to as a fitting session). This first fitting session is usually held in the user's home country, among other things because an exchange of information between the user and the person skilled in the art is usually necessary for the individual adaptation or configuration of the hearing device, and a corresponding exchange of information is easier for most people if the native language can be used for this purpose.

[0006] In addition, over time, further adaptation sessions are often required in which, for example, maintenance work is carried out. Such further adaptation sessions may also be necessary, for example, if the user happens to be staying outside his home country. This can lead to certain problems if the user does not know the language of the country in which he happens to be staying, or does not know it sufficiently, in order to exchange information relevant for the further adaptation session with a person skilled in the art on site. Summary of the invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for supporting a user of a hearing device, to provide an advantageously designed hearing device, and to provide an advantageous computer program product.

[0008] According to the present invention, the above technical problem is solved by a method having the features of the present invention, by a hearing device having the features of the present invention, and by a computer program product having the features of the present invention. Preferred expansion schemes are included in the present invention. According to the meaning, the advantages and preferred designs mentioned about the method can also be transferred to the hearing device and / or the computer program product, and vice versa.

[0009] The method according to the invention is used to support users of hearing devices. The term hearing device here refers to both a single hearing device and a hearing device system with two hearing devices, a hearing device for the left ear and a hearing device for the right ear, i.e., for example, a so-called binaural hearing device system.

[0010] Independently of this, the hearing device is usually designed corresponding to the hearing device described in the introduction and in particular as a classic hearing aid for hearing-impaired users.

[0011] In the course of the method, the hearing device is individually adapted to the user and / or configured according to the user's wishes in a first adaptation session, which is preferably held in the user's home country. The corresponding adaptation or configuration is usually performed by a service provider, in particular by a person skilled in the art, who is designed to adapt the hearing device to the individual needs of the user, i.e., for example, to the individual hearing loss of the user, and / or to maintain or repair the hearing device. Such a person skilled in the art usually belongs to a professional group, which includes, for example, audiological acousticians, hearing device acousticians or hearing system acousticians, wherein these names in some cases reflect the specialization.

[0012] Furthermore, in the course of the method, during the first adaptation session and, in some cases, also during further adaptation sessions, adaptation data are generated either on the part of the service provider of the first adaptation session or at least on the part of the service provider in the home country. These are usually data with the aid of which an individual adaptation of the hearing device to the user can be achieved and with the aid of which, in particular, an individual adaptation of the hearing device can also be reproduced. Alternatively or in addition, the adaptation data contain information about the preferred language of the user, information about the previous use history of the hearing device, information about problems that have occurred so far, information about solutions to problems that have occurred so far, etc.

[0013] These adaptation data are associated with the user and / or the hearing instrument and are stored, for example, at the end of the first adaptation session or the further adaptation session mentioned above, in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted due to access restrictions. The type of access restriction varies depending on the application. However, the following form of access restriction is typical, in which access data, such as an access code or a password, are required in order to be able to access the adaptation data.

[0014] The adaptation data of the user are then stored, for example, in a restricted access database, which can be accessed with the aid of the access data and in which the adaptation data are stored for a large number of users and / or hearing devices. Alternatively, the access restriction is such that a data set containing the adaptation data is stored for each user and / or each hearing device, and for each data set a unique access data which is explicitly associated with the data set is required. Thus, the corresponding access data only allow access to the adaptation data associated with very specific users and / or very specific hearing devices.

[0015] Furthermore, in the course of the method, a stay in a foreign country, i.e., generally a stay of the user in a foreign country, is automatically detected. In this context, the term foreign country in the sense of the present application firstly refers to a country of which the user is not a citizen and / or of which the user is not resident. In a broader sense, however, the term foreign country also refers to a region in which the majority of the population speaks a language that is different from the language of the majority of the population in the region in which the user is resident. It should be noted here that in some countries, such as India, different languages ​​are spoken in different regions, although all regions belong to the same country.

[0016] If a stay abroad is now automatically detected, then during the method a query is output to the user as to whether the access restriction should be changed. This query is output by the hearing device itself, for example by outputting a suitable language message. Depending on the application, a stay abroad is also automatically detected by the hearing device.

[0017] However, the method is preferably implemented using a mobile data processing unit, which is configured, for example, as a smart phone, tablet computer or laptop computer. In this case, the query is further preferably output via a display, wherein an acoustic output of the query is additionally provided depending on the application.

[0018] After the query has been issued, the user is preferably provided with the possibility to approve the change in the access restriction or to reject the change. The user usually makes the selection by input, for example, as a voice input via a microphone or as an input via a keyboard or touch screen. If no mobile data processing unit is provided, the input is usually carried out as a voice input via a microphone, ie in particular a microphone of a hearing instrument.

[0019] If the user decides not to adapt or change the access restrictions, then preferably there are no further method steps. If, on the other hand, the user decides to change the access restrictions and performs corresponding inputs by him, the access restrictions are usually subsequently changed, preferably automatically. For this purpose, a change request is transmitted, for example, from the hearing device or the mobile data processing unit to the place where the user's adaptation data are stored. Depending on the application, the change request is, for example, a message transmitted by SMS or e-mail to the service provider of the first adaptation session, or a command or command code by which the automatic change is initiated. By means of a corresponding change in the access restrictions, a roaming service is then usually activated or released, by means of which a wider group of people can access the adaptation data, in particular for use during further adaptation sessions.

[0020] As already explained above, during the course of the method, a stay in a foreign country is automatically detected. According to one embodiment, the stay in a foreign country is automatically detected with the aid of GPS data (GPS: Global Positioning System) or similar data, and in this case the hearing instrument and / or the mobile data processing unit then expediently has a receiver for GPS data or similar data.

[0021] As an alternative or in addition to this, a stay in a foreign country is detected by means of a communication network, i.e., for example, a mobile radio network and / or by means of a WLAN, wherein the WLAN is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, for example, and optionally a Wi-Fi certification is assigned. That is, a stay in a foreign country is detected, for example, automatically, if the aforementioned mobile data processing unit, which is designed, for example, as a smartphone, is connected to a mobile radio network in a foreign country, or at least if the corresponding mobile data processing unit detects such a mobile radio network.

[0022] It is also expedient that, for example, a stay in a foreign country is automatically detected by means of a so-called SIM card (SIM: Subscriber Identity Module) if the smartphone described above detects a SIM card of a foreign mobile radio network or if such a SIM card is activated. It should be noted that it is not uncommon to purchase a SIM card for a stay in a foreign country, for example during a business trip or vacation, in order to be able to use a mobile radio network in a foreign country. If, for example, a corresponding SIM card is inserted into a smartphone and then the smartphone is turned on again, a stay in a foreign country is automatically detected.

[0023] As already explained above, according to a preferred embodiment variant, a query is output to the user via a display as to whether the access restriction should be changed, in particular when the query is output by the aforementioned mobile data processing unit. Depending on the application, the query is further output in such a way that a certain number of possibilities for responding to the query are available to the user. In the simplest case, the user is offered the possibility to either reject the query or to accept the query. Alternatively, a plurality of possibilities for responding to the query, i.e. more than two, are predefined with the query. Thus, according to an embodiment variant, two different variants for changing the access restriction are offered to the user for selection, in particular in addition to the possibility to reject the query and thus to reject the change of the access restriction.

[0024] Furthermore, a method variant is advantageous in which a query is output to the user as to whether the access restriction should be changed only when a second adaptation session is detected as imminent. That is, in this case, two conditions must be met before the corresponding query is output. One condition is that a second adaptation session is detected as imminent, and the second condition is that a stay in a foreign country is detected.

[0025] If an appointment for an adaptation session is stored or stored in the mobile data processing unit and a predefined time for setting an appointment reminder is reached, then, for example, a second adaptation session is identified as imminent.

[0026] As an alternative or in addition to this, a second adaptation session is identified as being imminent when the user, preferably with the aid of a mobile data processing unit, starts a search for a service provider, in particular a service provider of the type described above, using a person skilled in the art from the professional group described above, who offers adaptation and / or maintenance and / or repair of hearing devices as a service.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, a second adaptation session is identified as imminent when an error message is present in the hearing device and / or when an error message is transmitted from the hearing device to the mobile data processing unit.

[0028] Furthermore, as has already been stated, in many method variants, the mobile data processing unit described above is used in order to implement the method according to the invention with its aid. In these cases, the automatic recognition of the stay in a foreign country is preferably realized by the mobile data processing unit, and further preferably, a query is output to the user via a display of the mobile data processing unit as to whether the access restriction should be changed. Furthermore, it is common in some cases for the hearing device and the mobile data processing unit to be coupled at least temporarily during the method, so that data can be transmitted from the hearing device to the mobile data processing unit and / or from the mobile data processing unit to the hearing device. With the aid of this coupling or during this coupling, for example, error messages are transmitted from the hearing device to the mobile data processing unit as described above, or an error memory in the hearing device is read by the mobile data processing unit.

[0029] It is also advantageous if, during this coupling between the hearing device and the mobile data processing unit, identification data identifying the hearing device are transmitted. If the user subsequently agrees to a change in the access restrictions during the method, the identification data are usually used to implement the change in the access restrictions, for example by transmitting a request to change the access data to the location where the adaptation data is stored, wherein in this case the request preferably contains the identification data.

[0030] Depending on the application, it is also advantageous to change the access restrictions in such a way that, if the user agrees to change the access restrictions, access data is generated and, for example, transmitted to a third party, that is, for example, an access code or password is generated.

[0031] The access code is then displayed, for example, on a display of the mobile data processing unit and can then be displayed to the aforementioned service provider. Alternatively, a corresponding password is generated and transmitted electronically, for example by SMS, e-mail or other message, to the selected service provider or a certain number of selected service providers. Independently of the type of transmission of the access data to third parties, a limited validity period is usually predefined for the access data. That is, the access data can only be used within a limited predefined time period, for example specified by the user, to query the adaptation data. After the validity period has expired, the adaptation data can no longer be queried with the aid of the access data.

[0032] Depending on the application, the aforementioned third party is a person, a service provider or a group of service providers. According to a method variant, the third party is accordingly all service providers of the aforementioned type, which operate in a foreign country and accordingly provide their services in a foreign country. Alternatively, it is all service providers of the aforementioned type in a foreign country and all service providers of the aforementioned type in countries directly adjacent to the foreign country. Alternatively, it is all service providers of the aforementioned type worldwide.

[0033] Hearing devices are usually special hearing device models or special hearing device types of special manufacturers. It is therefore appropriate that the third party is only those service providers of the type described above in foreign countries, which provide services for hearing devices of a special hearing device manufacturer and / or provide services for corresponding special hearing device models or hearing device types of special hearing device manufacturers. The corresponding service provider is specialized to a certain extent for hearing devices of the corresponding manufacturer, or even for hearing devices of a special hearing device model or a special hearing device type. Here, in the present application, specialization means that the corresponding service provider has specific expertise and / or specific facilities for hearing devices of the corresponding manufacturer and / or corresponding hearing device model or special hearing device type.

[0034] It is also advantageous if, during the method, a return to the user's home country is automatically detected and, if a return to the home country is automatically detected, a query is output to the user as to whether the access restrictions should be reset or changed again. If the user subsequently agrees to the reset or change of the access restrictions, the access restrictions are changed or reset again, for example by revoking the validity of the previously output access data.

[0035] The hearing device according to the invention is configured to carry out at least one method step of the method described above in at least one operating mode. For this purpose, the hearing device preferably has the aforementioned transmitting and / or receiving unit for exchanging data with the aforementioned mobile data processing unit. Further preferably, the data exchange takes place here with the aid of a computer program product according to the invention.

[0036] The computer program product according to the invention in turn comprises a program executable on the aforementioned mobile data processing unit, which automatically carries out at least one method step of the method described above after starting. The corresponding program can also be subsequently installed or stored with the aid of the computer program product according to the invention. The computer program product is usually a file or a data carrier with a file, wherein the file contains an executable program, ie, in particular a suitable program code. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below based on schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 A block diagram shows a user with a hearing device in a first adaptation session with a first service provider in the user's home country; and

[0039] Figure 2 The block diagram shows a user with a hearing device in a second adaptation session on the part of a second foreign service provider.

[0040] Parts that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference symbols in all the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The method described below by way of example serves to support a user 2 of a hearing device 4. In the following, the term hearing device 4 hereby denotes a hearing device system having two hearing devices 4a, 4b, namely a hearing device 4a for the left ear of the user 2 and a hearing device 4b for the right ear of the user 2.

[0042] During the method, the hearing device 4 is individually adapted to the user 4 in a first adaptation session. Figure 1 In particular, if the hearing device 4 is designed as a classic hearing aid, an adaptation to the individual hearing loss of the user 2 usually takes place, wherein the individual adaptation of the hearing device 4 to the user 2 is based on a so-called audiogram, for example.

[0043] Independently of this, the first adaptation session takes place, for example, in a first service provider 6 with expertise in hearing devices, i.e., in the business of a hearing device acoustician. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the first adaptation session takes place in the home country HL of the user 2, i.e., in the country or state where the user 2 resides and / or in which the user 2 holds citizenship.

[0044] Furthermore, during the first adaptation session and thus during the method, adaptation data are generated, by means of which the hearing device 4 can be adapted individually to the user 2. A part of the adaptation data is, for example, parameter values ​​which are predefined for the hearing device 4 and, as a function of the parameter values, an input signal is amplified, for example, by the hearing device 4.

[0045] These adaptation data are then stored during the course of the method and are usually associated with the user 2 and / or the hearing device 4. Furthermore, the adaptation data are preferably stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted due to access restrictions.

[0046] Here, the corresponding access restrictions are, depending on the application, such that, for example, the adaptation data are stored on a local computer 8 or a local server at the first service provider 6 and the adaptation data can only be called up on site at the first service provider 6. Alternatively, the access restrictions are such that the adaptation data are stored on a server that is not located at the first service provider 6, in particular in a so-called cloud architecture 10, more precisely in a password-protected data set, in a password-protected layer of the cloud architecture, or in a password-protected database.

[0047] Furthermore, during the method, a stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected, and if a stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected, a query is output to the user 2 as to whether the access restriction should be changed. According to an embodiment variant, the stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected by the hearing device 4 or the mobile data processing unit. The mobile data processing unit is designed, for example, as a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

[0048] Regardless of whether the stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected by the hearing device 4 or by the aforementioned mobile data processing unit, according to an embodiment variant, the automatic detection is performed with the aid of GPS data, and in this case the hearing device 4 or the mobile data processing unit usually has a GPS receiver. That is, in this case, the hearing device or the mobile data processing unit is then designed to receive and in particular also process and / or evaluate GPS data.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, a stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected with the aid of a communication network 14 in the foreign FL. The corresponding communication network 14 is designed here, for example, as a mobile radio network or a so-called WLAN. A stay in a foreign FL is usually automatically detected when a signal of the communication network 14 is received or when a connection to the communication network 14 is established and when the communication network 14 is identified as a communication network 14 of the foreign FL.

[0050] According to a further embodiment variant, the stay in a foreign FL is automatically identified by means of a so-called SIM card. This applies in particular when the automatic identification is performed by the aforementioned mobile data processing unit.

[0051] If a stay in a foreign FL is automatically detected during the method, a response is therefore taken to this effect, namely to the extent that a query is output to the user 2 either via the hearing device 4 or via the mobile data processing unit as to whether the access restriction should be changed. If the query is output via or by the mobile data processing unit, the query is preferably output via a display unit or display 16 of the mobile data processing unit, more specifically in particular as a text message.

[0052] Firstly, when the aforementioned data processing unit is used to implement the method, the following embodiment variant is typical, in which the method is implemented with the aid of a computer program product, which usually includes a so-called application, i.e. a program that can be executed on the mobile data processing unit. As long as the mobile data processing unit is in operation, the application is usually executed in the background.

[0053] If a stay in a foreign FL is then automatically detected, a window with a text message is opened, for example, in the display 16, wherein the text message contains a question as to whether the access restriction should be changed. The question is usually generated by the aforementioned application. Alternatively, the question is transmitted to the aforementioned data processing unit, for example, by SMS or by e-mail.

[0054] Furthermore, a number of selection possibilities are then preferably provided to the user 2 in a window, from which the user can select by input, for example, via the display 16 (if the display is designed as a touch screen). In the simplest case, two selection possibilities are provided here, namely to approve the change of the access restriction or to reject the change. Alternatively, the user 2 is provided with the possibility of either rejecting the change or selecting from a number of different changes of the access restriction.

[0055] Then, with the change of the access restrictions, the group of people who have access to the adaptation data is increased. By his input, the user 2 here decides whether to increase the group of people and also preferably also decides which people or other service providers are to be granted access rights. That is, by a specific input, for example, a second service provider 18 that provides its services in a foreign FL is granted access rights.

[0056] For this purpose, for example, the adaptation data are copied or transmitted from a local computer 8 or a local server at the first service provider 6 to the cloud infrastructure 10 via the communication network 20. The transmission is initiated by the first service provider 6, in which case the first service provider 6 automatically receives the change authorization due to a specific input of the user 2, for example, via SMS or email, or it is carried out completely automatically due to a specific input of the user 2. If the adaptation data are already present in the cloud infrastructure 10, for example, in a password-protected data set or in a password-protected layer of the cloud infrastructure 10, the adaptation data are, for example, moved or copied to another layer of the cloud infrastructure 10, to which the second service provider 18 has access rights, or the second service provider 18 receives access data, i.e., in particular a password, which enables access. In the second case, the change is also either carried out with the help of the first service provider 6, in which case the first service provider 6 again automatically receives the change authorization due to a specific input of the user 2, for example, via SMS or email, or it is carried out completely automatically due to a specific input of the user 2.

[0057] Depending on the application, once a change in access restrictions is implemented, the user 2 is notified each time. Here, the notification is carried out, for example, via an application message, SMS or email, and preferably automatically. The notification serves as a confirmation for the user 2.

[0058] As described above, it is preferably provided that the user 2 also decides which other persons or other service providers are to gain access to the adaptation data by changing the access restrictions. To this end, the user 2 selects one or more service providers, for example, from a selection of suitable service providers. In this case, the corresponding selection is automatically filtered out of the database, for example based on the user 2's presettings, and is displayed to the user 2, for example, on the display 16. Alternatively, the selection reflects the user 2's inquiry, for example, an inquiry in a portal, for service providers whose services are offered, which therefore particularly answer the user 2's inquiry.

[0059] If a change in access restrictions is made, by which the second service provider 18 has, for example, gained access to the adaptation data, then an adaptation session at the second service provider 18 of the foreign FL or at least one adaptation session implemented by the second service provider 18 is expediently followed. In the second case, the user 2 or the second service provider 18 establishes a communication connection between the hearing device 4 and / or the mobile data processing unit 12 and the local computer 22 at the second service provider 18 for the adaptation session. In this case, the second service provider 18 then uses the adaptation data.

[0060] Furthermore, it is advantageous that during the method the return of the user 2 to the home country HL is also automatically detected and, if the return to the home country HL is automatically detected, a query is output to the user 2 as to whether the access restrictions should be reset or changed again. If the user 2 then agrees to the reset or change of the access restrictions, the access restrictions are changed or reset again, for example by revoking the validity of the previously output access data or by, for example, by transferring the adaptation data (which may have been changed or expanded by the second service provider during the adaptation session) back to the local computer 8 of the first service provider 6 and / or deleting it in the cloud architecture 10. The automatic detection is carried out in this case in a similar manner to the detection of the stay in the foreign country FL, i.e., for example by connecting the mobile data processing unit to the mobile radio network in the home country HL.

[0061] Reference numerals list

[0062] 2 Users

[0063] 4 Hearing devices / hearing device systems

[0064] 4a Hearing device for left ear

[0065] 4b Hearing device for right ear

[0066] 6. First service provider (in the home country)

[0067] 8 Local computer (at the first service provider)

[0068] 10. Cloud Architecture

[0069] 12 mobile data processing unit

[0070] 14 Communication network (in foreign countries)

[0071] 16 (Mobile data processing unit) display

[0072] 18 Second service provider (in a foreign country)

[0073] 20 Communication network (in the motherland)

[0074] 22 Local computer (at the second service provider)

[0075] HL Motherland

[0076] FL Foreign

Claims

1. A method for supporting a user (2) of a hearing device (4), wherein: the hearing device (4) is individually adapted to the user (2) in a first adaptation session, the first adaptation session being held in the home country (HL) of the user (2), - generating adaptation data during said first adaptation session, the adaptation data are associated with the user (2) or the hearing device (4) and are stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted due to access restrictions, - Automatically identify stays in foreign countries (FL), and If a stay in a foreign country (FL) is automatically detected, a query is output to the user (2) as to whether the access restriction should be changed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) automatically recognizes the stay in a foreign country (FL).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) is a smart phone.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) automatically detects a stay in a foreign country (FL) with the aid of GPS data.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) automatically detects a stay in a foreign country (FL) by means of a communication network (14).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The communication network (14) is a mobile radio network or a WLAN.

7. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) automatically detects a stay in a foreign country (FL) by means of a SIM card.

8. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) outputs a query to the user (2) as to whether the access restriction should be changed.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The mobile data processing unit (12) outputs a query to the user (2) via a display (16) as to whether the access restriction should be changed.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: Only when a second adaptation session is identified as imminent is a query output to the user (2) as to whether the access restriction should be changed.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: A second adaptation session is identified as imminent when an error message is present in the hearing device (4) and / or when an error message is transmitted from the hearing device (4) to the mobile data processing unit (12).

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: If the user (2) agrees to the change in the access restrictions, the access restrictions are changed in such a way that access data are generated and transmitted to third parties.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The third party is a service provider (18) operating in a foreign country (FL).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The hearing device (4) is a special hearing device model (A), and wherein the third party is a service provider (18) operating in a foreign country (FL) and providing services in relation to the special hearing device model (A).

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A return to the home country (HL) of the user (2) is automatically detected, and if a return to the home country (HL) is automatically detected, a query is output to the user (2) as to whether the access restriction should be reset.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: If the user (2) agrees to change the access restrictions, the access restrictions are changed in such a way that access data are generated and transmitted to a third party, and if the user (2) agrees to reset the access restrictions, the access restrictions are reset in such a way that the validity of the access data is revoked.

17. A hearing instrument (4) configured to carry out at least one method step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16 in at least one operating mode.

18. A computer program product comprising a program executable on a mobile data processing unit (12) which, after being started, automatically carries out at least one method step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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