Patent ID: 6628795
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
A method for automatic gain control in a hearing aid comprising at least one input signal transducer, a signal processor including at least one processing channel and an output signal transducer, said method comprising the steps of:detecting an input signal from said input signal transducer and/or an output signal from said signal processor and adapting, within an operational range of said automatic gain control, said output sound level supplied by said output signal transducer in response to said detected sound level by controlling the gain of said signal processor towards an actual desired value of said output sound level, said gain control being effected at increases and decreases, respectively, of said input sound level by adjusting the gain towards said actual desired value with an attack time and a release time, respectively, whereby said release time is variable in response to changes in said received sound level, wherein said attack and release times are adjusted in response to said detected sound level to a relatively short duration providing fast gain adjustment at high input and/or output sound levels and to a relatively long duration providing slow gain adjustment at low input and/or output sound levels.