Patent Description:
Hearing devices are generally small and complex devices. They may include a processor, microphone, speaker, memory, housing, and other electronical and mechanical components. Some examples of hearing devices are Behind-The-Ear (BTE), Receiver-In-Canal (RIC), In-The-Ear (ITE), Completely-In-Canal (CIC), 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.

A hearing device often has functions (or so-called modifiers) for manually adjusting the sound output of the hearing device. For example, an overall volume, treble and bass may be adjustable by such modifiers. This may be sufficient for many users and for most of the situations they are in.

However, there may be situations where a user might want to modify more than just one modifier at a time. For example, some users also might want to switch their hearing device between a clarity mode and a comfort mode, which would involve modifying other modifiers than just volume.

<CIT> describes a method for adjusting a hearing device to hearing preferences of a user. A frequency transposition device is configurable by at least two frequency modification parameters. The method includes manually adjusting at least two control elements each associated with a different one of at least two auditory perceptive dimensions, and automatically setting the at least two frequency modification parameters based on the adjusting of said at least two control elements. <CIT> describes a method for determining a parameter set for a hearing aid. During the computerized setting of the hearing aid, a macro call is determined, the macro call is converted into at least one setting command according to a macro definition, and the parameter set is determined dependent on the at least one setting command.

<CIT> describes a method for adjusting a hearing device to personal preferences and needs of a user. The proposed method comprises providing initial settings and target settings for signal processing parameters of the hearing device.

<CIT> describes a method for determining dynamically, based on the identification information, and using a plurality of pre-stored data items accessible to the one or more processing devices, a recommended set of parameters for adjusting settings of the hearing assistance device in the acoustic environment. The plurality of pre-stored data items represent parameters used by a plurality of users in different acoustic environments. The method further includes providing the recommended set of parameters to a hearing assistance device.

It is an objective of the invention to improve the selection and modification of sound modifiers implemented in a hearing device.

This objective is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further exemplary embodiments are evident from the dependent claims and the following description.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a sound output of a hearing device. A hearing device may be a hearing aid adapted for compensating the hearing loss of a user. The hearing device may comprise basic modifiers adjustable by the user, each basic modifier having a range of basic modifier values selectable by the user and each basic modifier modifying a sound processing of the hearing device dependent on the respective basic modifier value.

A basic modifier may be a sound modifier such as to modify overall volume, volume of low, middle or high frequency ranges, noise canceling, dynamic, speech focus, etc. The basic modifiers may be adjustable by selecting one of a range of at least two different basic modifier values. For example, the basic modifier values may include a maximum, minimum and/or neutral value. Additionally, the basic modifier values may include interpolation steps in between the at least two different values, for example in between the maximum, minimum and/or neutral value.

The sound processing may comprise the following steps: receiving a sound signal, for example from a microphone and/or via a wireless radio transmission; amplifying and/or filtering the sound signal based on the selected basic modifier values; outputting the amplified and/or filtered sound signal to the ear of the user of the hearing device, for example through a loudspeaker and/or a so-called receiver. The sound signal may be amplified and/or filtered dependent on frequencies included in the sound signal.

The method as described above and below may be performed automatically by the hearing device or, optionally, by a mobile device in data communication with the hearing device.

According to the invention, the method comprises: receiving a macro modifier value for a macro modifier, wherein the macro modifier is associated with a subset of the basic modifiers and wherein the macro modifier value is selected by the user from a macro modifier range; calculating, for each basic modifier in the subset, a basic modifier value, wherein the basic modifier value is calculated with a predefined function based on the macro modifier value; applying the calculated basic modifier values to the basic modifiers such that the sound processing of the hearing device is performed based on the basic modifiers adjusted with the calculated basic modifier values.

A subset of basic modifiers may include at least two different basic modifiers. Thus, a macro modifier may be a modifier which is used to modify at least two different basic modifiers at a time. In other words, by selecting or modifying one macro modifier value, at least two basic modifier values are selected or calculated based on a predefined function. A predefined function may be a function which defines a set of basic modifier values depending on a selected macro modifier value, for example by mathematically calculating the basic modifier values in an input/output operation or by selecting them in a stored lookup table containing an array of indexed basic modifier values.

By applying the calculated or selected basic modifier values to the corresponding basic modifiers, any existing values for these basic modifiers may be overwritten.

The basic modifiers and/or the macro modifiers may be adjustable via an appropriate interface such as an application on a mobile device with appropriate basic modifier and/or macro modifier control elements or dedicated buttons and/or sliders on the hearing device itself. The basic modifier values and/or the macro modifier values may be displayed to the user as numerical values, for example on an interval scale from -n to +n, or as nominal values such as "less", "more", "wide", "narrow", "soft", loud", "minimum", "neutral", maximum".

According to an embodiment of the invention, the predefined function is a mathematical function and/or selects a value from a lookup table. The mathematical function and/or the lookup table may be stored in the hearing device. For example, the lookup table may be precalculated and stored in static program storage, calculated or prefetched as part of a program's initialization phase, also called memorization, or in hardware in an application-specific platform. In general, the mathematical function may be determined by a curve which may be defined by a set of points. Values in between these points may then be determined by interpolation. The predefined function may be, for example, a linear function or a function that finds approximate values based on human perception. This embodiment may allow for efficient calculating of the basic modifier values. Especially by using a lookup table, that is, by retrieving the basic modifier values from memory, savings in terms of processing time may be significant.

According to the invention, the macro modifier range is divided into a first range between a first value and a neutral value and a second range between the neutral value and a second value. Generally speaking, the first value and the second value may describe opposite extremes such as "maximum comfort" as opposed to "maximum clarity" or "soft" as opposed to "loud". For example, as already mentioned above, the first value may be a minimum value whereas the second value may be a maximum value. The first range may include only negative values whereas the second range may include only positive values. Alternatively, both of the ranges may include negative and/or positive values. The neutral value may be considered as a reference or starting point for any modifications of the macro modifier. Thus, the neutral value may be zero. For example, the neutral value may correspond to a neutral preset of basic modifier values. The first range and the second range may each have the same number of discrete values or steps. Alternatively, the first range and the second range may have different numbers of steps. Additionally, values in between the steps may be interpolated based on linear or perceptive approximation, which may be dependent on the range and/or the number of steps.

According to an embodiment of the invention, when the macro modifier value is selected from the first range, the basic modifier value is calculated with a first predefined function. Additionally or alternatively, when the macro modifier value is selected from the second range, the basic modifier value may be calculated with a second predefined function. For example, the two functions may be used to look up the basic modifier value in different lookup tables or may describe different curves for calculating the basic modifier value. It also may be that the first function is a linear function whereas the second function is a nonlinear function, or vice versa. This embodiment allows for an asymmetric sound processing dependent on a chosen range.

According to the invention, when the macro modifier value is selected from the first range, a value of a volume modifier is decreased and a value of an additional basic modifier is increased. Additionally, when the macro modifier value is selected from the second range, the value of the volume modifier is increased and the value of the additional basic modifier is decreased. A volume modifier may modify an overall volume or a volume of a specific frequency band specifying, for example a treble range, a middle range or a bass range. An additional basic modifier may modify dynamic, for example emphasize soft sounds and/or limit loud sounds, noise canceling or beamforming, which may be used for focusing on speech. According to the invention, when selecting the macro modifier value from the first range, the overall volume is decreased whereas the limiting of loud sounds is increased. Inversely, when selecting the macro modifier value from the second range, the overall volume is increased whereas the limiting of loud sounds is decreased in favor of emphasizing soft sounds. This may allow for an easy frequency-dependent volume control.

According to an embodiment of the invention, when the macro modifier value is selected from the second range, a value of at least one other additional basic modifier is increased. For example, when decreasing the limiting of loud sounds in order to emphasize soft sounds, speech focus and/or noise canceling may be increased accordingly. In this way, clarity of the output sound signal may be improved.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the additional basic modifier is a dynamic modifier for emphasizing soft sounds and/or limiting loud sounds. Additionally or alternatively, the other additional basic modifier may be a noise cancellation modifier and/or a speech focus modifier. As exemplarily described above, this may have the advantage that, by selecting a single (macro modifier) value, clarity is improved.

According to an embodiment of the invention, when the macro modifier value is selected from the first range, a value of an overall volume and/or a value of a treble volume and/or a value of a middle volume is decreased. Additionally or alternatively, when the macro modifier value is selected from the second range, a value of an overall volume may be increased and/or not modified and/or a value of a treble volume and/or a value of a middle volume may be increased. An overall volume may be an overall amplification level of the sound signal. A treble volume may be a frequency-dependent volume of a high frequency range comprising frequencies above <NUM>. A middle volume may be a frequency-dependent volume of a middle frequency range comprising frequencies between <NUM> and <NUM>. This may allow to modify frequency-dependent volumes by selecting the macro modifier value.

The user interface may provide a locked mode where the basic modifier control elements are locked so that the basic modifiers can only be changed through the macro modifier control element, that is, through a calculation based on the selected macro modifier value and the predefined function.

The user interface may also provide an unlocked mode where the basic modifier control elements are unlocked so that the basic modifiers can be changed manually and/or through the macro modifier control element. In this case, a basic modifier value resulting from a manual change of the respective basic modifier control element may overwrite a previously calculated basic modifier value. For example, the user interface may also provide a reset function in order to reset a basic modifier to a previously calculated basic modifier value.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program which, when being executed in a processor, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method as described above and below.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium in which such a computer program is stored. In general, a computer-readable medium may be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an 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. A computer-readable medium may also be a data communication network, e. the Internet, which allows downloading a program code. In general, the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory or transitory medium.

For example, the computer program may be executed in a processor of the hearing device, which, for example, may be carried behind the user's ear. The computer-readable medium may be a memory of said hearing device. The computer program may also be executed, at least partially, by a processor of a mobile device. The computer-readable medium may be a memory of the mobile device. It may be that some steps of the method as described above and below are performed by the hearing device whereas some other steps of the method as described above and below are performed by the mobile device.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a hearing system adapted for performing the method as described above and below. The hearing system may comprise a hearing device and, optionally, a mobile device providing a user interface as described above. The hearing device and/or the mobile device may comprise a processor and a memory in which the computer program is stored. The hearing device may comprise a microphone for acquiring a sound signal which is processed with the method as described above and below.

It has to be understood that features of the method as described above and below may be features of the computer program, the computer-readable medium and the hearing system as described above and below, and vice versa.

Below, embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

<FIG> schematically shows a hearing system <NUM> with a hearing device <NUM> in the form of a behind-the-ear device and a mobile device <NUM>. It has to be noted that the hearing device <NUM> is a specific embodiment and that the method described herein also may be performed by other types of hearing devices, such as in-the-ear devices.

The hearing device <NUM> comprises a case <NUM> to be put behind an ear of a user, a dome tip <NUM> to be inserted into an external auditory canal of the ear, and a tube <NUM> connecting the case <NUM> with the dome tip <NUM>. In the case <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, a sound processor <NUM> and a sound output device <NUM>, such as a loudspeaker or receiver, are provided. The case <NUM> may also contain a battery. The microphone <NUM> may acquire environmental sound and generate a sound signal accordingly. The sound processor <NUM> may amplify the sound signal. The sound output device <NUM> may generate sound that is guided through the tube <NUM> and the dome tip <NUM> into the auditory canal of the user.

The hearing device <NUM> may further comprise a processor <NUM> which is adapted for adjusting parameters of the sound processor <NUM>. The parameters control a frequency-dependent and/or volume-dependent amplification of the sound signal. Among others, the parameters may comprise basic modifier parameters for modifying the sound signal with different basic modifiers such as volume, bass, treble, noise canceling, speech focus, dynamic, etc..

The parameters may be determined by a computer program run in the processor <NUM>. The case <NUM> may have a button <NUM>, for example a knob, to select a basic modifier as well as levels and/or values of a selected basic modifier. These levels and/or values may then be applied to the sound signal by the sound processor <NUM>. Said functions may be implemented as computer programs stored in a memory <NUM> of the hearing device <NUM>. The computer programs may be executed by the processor <NUM>.

The hearing device <NUM> may further comprise a sender/receiver <NUM> for, for example, wireless data communication with a sender/receiver <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>, which may be a smartphone or tablet computer. It is also possible that the above-mentioned basic modifiers and/or their levels and/or values are adjusted with the mobile device <NUM>. This may be performed with a computer program run in a processor <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM> and stored in a memory <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>. The computer program may provide a graphical user interface <NUM> on a display <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>.

In order to adjust the basic modifiers, the user interface <NUM> may comprise a macro modifier control element <NUM>, for example in the form of a slider as shown in <FIG>, which is used for selecting a macro modifier value <NUM> of a macro modifier. The macro modifier is associated with a subset of basic modifiers to be adjusted. The selected macro modifier value <NUM> may then be sent to the hearing device <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the user may select the macro modifier value <NUM> with the hearing device <NUM> itself, for example via the button <NUM>.

The macro modifier value <NUM> may be selected from a macro modifier range <NUM> comprising a first range <NUM> between a first value <NUM> and a neutral value <NUM> and a second range <NUM> between the neutral value <NUM> and a second value <NUM>. The three values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are each indicated by a vertical line.

Based on the macro modifier value <NUM>, the hearing device <NUM> may calculate parameters for each basic modifier in the subset with a predefined function and change parameters of the sound processor <NUM> accordingly. Parameters corresponding to macro modifier values <NUM> in between the three values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be interpolated by the mobile device <NUM>. An interpolation area of the macro modifier range <NUM> may be indicated by two facing arrows.

Additionally or alternatively, based on the macro modifier value <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM> may calculate parameters for each basic modifier in the subset with a predefined function. In this case, the calculated parameters may be sent to the hearing device <NUM> which may then change parameters of the sound processor <NUM> accordingly.

The user interface <NUM> may also comprise several basic modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> each of which may be used to manually select a basic modifier value <NUM> for the respective basic modifier. A basic modifier value <NUM> may be seen as a parameter for a basic modifier. The manually selected basic modifier values <NUM> may then be sent to the hearing device <NUM> which may change parameters of the sound processor <NUM> accordingly. In particular, the hearing device <NUM> may overwrite previously calculated parameters for the basic modifiers with the manually selected basic modifier values <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, the basic modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be changed with the macro modifier control element <NUM>. In this case, based on the selected macro modifier value <NUM>, the mobile device <NUM> may calculate the basic modifier values <NUM> for each of the basic modifiers controlled by the basic modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and, optionally, change a position of the basic modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> accordingly.

The adjustment of the basic modifiers with the mobile device <NUM> will be explained in more detail below.

<FIG> schematically shows the user interface <NUM> of <FIG> with a macro modifier for controlling dynamic volume. In this example, the macro modifier is associated with the following subset of four different basic modifiers: volume (controlled by the basic modifier element <NUM>), noise canceling (controlled by the basic modifier element <NUM>), speech focus (controlled by the basic modifier element <NUM>), and dynamic (controlled by the basic modifier element <NUM>). Exemplarily, <FIG> shows different positions of the basic modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> depending on whether the macro modifier is set to the first value <NUM>, the neutral value <NUM> or the second value <NUM> by the user. In <FIG>, the neutral value <NUM> corresponds to a medium dynamic volume whereas the first value <NUM> corresponds to a minimum dynamic volume ("soft") and the second value <NUM> to a maximum dynamic volume ("loud").

When the user selects the neutral value <NUM> for the macro modifier, volume and dynamic may each be set to a middle position whereas noise canceling and speech focus may be set to different positions between a middle position and a minimum position.

When the user selects the first value <NUM> for the macro modifier, volume may be decreased to a position between the middle position and a minimum position whereas dynamic may be increased to a maximum position, which means that loud sounds are now limited.

Inversely, when the user selects the second value <NUM> for the macro modifier, volume may be increased to a position between the middle position and a maximum position whereas dynamic may be decreased to a minimum position, which means that soft sounds are now emphasized. Noise canceling and speech focus may each remain unchanged. Adjustments of the basic modifier values <NUM> resulting from position changes of the macro modifier control element <NUM> are indicated by arrows.

A position change of a macro modifier control element <NUM> may be seen as an adjustment of a corresponding macro modifier and/or as a selection of a corresponding macro modifier value <NUM>. A position change of a basic modifier control element <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be seen as an adjustment of a corresponding basic modifier and/or as a selection of a corresponding basic modifier value <NUM>. A basic modifier control element <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be changed directly and/or individually and/or with a macro modifier control element <NUM>.

When the user selects a macro modifier value <NUM> in between the three values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the corresponding basic modifier values <NUM> may be interpolated by linear or perceptive approximation. The macro modifier range <NUM> as shown in <FIG> may, for example, have a step size of -<NUM> (minimum dynamic volume, "soft") to +<NUM> (maximum dynamic volume, "loud").

<FIG> schematically shows the user interface <NUM> of <FIG> with a macro modifier for controlling comfort and clarity. In contrast to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the user interface <NUM> comprises, in <FIG>, three volume modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> for selecting volume modifier values <NUM> for bass volume, middle volume and treble volume. The volume modifier values <NUM> are indicated by short horizontal lines. The volume modifier control elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be seen as basic modifier control elements for controlling basic modifiers. Consequently, the volume modifier values <NUM> may be adjusted by the macro modifier in the same manner as the basic modifier values <NUM> as described above with <FIG> and <FIG>.

In this example, the first value <NUM> corresponds to a maximum comfort whereas the second value <NUM> corresponds to a maximum clarity.

When the user selects the neutral value <NUM>, volume, noise canceling, speech focus and dynamic may each be set to a neutral position. More precisely, volume and dynamic may each be set to the middle position whereas noise canceling and speech focus may be set to different positions between the middle position and the minimum position. Further, bass volume, middle volume and treble volume may each be set to a middle position.

When the user selects the first value <NUM>, volume may be slightly decreased to a position between the middle position and the minimum position whereas noise canceling, speech focus and dynamic may each be increased. More precisely, noise canceling and dynamic may each be set to a maximum position whereas speech focus may be increased only slightly to a position between the middle position and the minimum position. Further, treble volume may be slightly decreased to a position between the middle position and a minimum position whereas both bass volume and middle volume may remain unchanged.

When the user selects the second value <NUM>, volume may remain unchanged whereas noise canceling and speech focus may be increased to different positions between the middle position and the maximum position, and dynamic may be decreased to a position between the middle position and the minimum position. More precisely, noise canceling may be increased less and speech focus may be increased more than when the user selects the first value <NUM>. Further, middle volume and treble volume may be increased to different positions between the middle position and a maximum position whereas bass volume may remain unchanged. More precisely, treble volume may be increased more than middle volume.

As in <FIG>, adjustments of the basic modifier values <NUM> and the volume modifier values <NUM> resulting from position changes of the macro modifier control element <NUM> are indicated by arrows. A position change of a volume modifier control element <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be seen as an adjustment of a corresponding volume modifier and/or as a selection of a corresponding volume modifier value <NUM>.

When the user selects a macro modifier value <NUM> in between the three values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the corresponding volume modifier values <NUM> may be interpolated by linear or perceptive approximation.

The user interface <NUM> may provide means for switching between different macro modifier modes, for example between a first macro modifier mode for controlling dynamic volume as described in <FIG> and a second macro modifier mode for controlling comfort and clarity as described in <FIG>. When the user selects the first macro modifier mode, the basic modifier value <NUM> for each basic modifier associated with the macro modifier may be calculated based on a first set of functions whereas, when the user selects the second macro modifier mode, the basic modifier value <NUM> for each basic modifier associated with the macro modifier may be calculated based on a second set of functions different from the first set of functions. Thus, the same macro modifier value <NUM> may result in different basic modifier values <NUM> depending on which macro modifier mode is selected.

It may be that different macro modifier modes comprise different subsets of basic modifiers associated to the macro modifier, that is, different numbers and different sorts of basic modifiers.

<FIG> shows a flow diagram for a method <NUM> for controlling a sound output of a hearing device. The method <NUM> may be performed with the hearing system <NUM> of <FIG>.

In step <NUM>, the user interface <NUM> is provided with the mobile device <NUM> and the macro modifier control element <NUM> is shown to the user. The user may then select a macro modifier value <NUM> from the macro modifier range <NUM>. When the user has selected the macro modifier value <NUM>, it is sent from the mobile device <NUM> to the hearing device <NUM>.

Alternatively, the user may select a macro modifier value <NUM> with a user interface of the hearing device <NUM>, such as the button <NUM>.

In the end, the macro modifier value <NUM> is received in a computer program executed in the hearing device <NUM> which performs the following steps.

The macro modifier value <NUM> received in the hearing device <NUM> may be seen as a demand for adjusting different basic modifiers at a time.

The method continues in step <NUM> when the macro modifier value <NUM> is selected from the first range <NUM> included in the macro modifier range <NUM> or in step <NUM> when the macro modifier value <NUM> is selected from the second range <NUM> included in the macro modifier range <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the basic modifier values <NUM> for a subset of basic modifiers associated to the macro modifier may be calculated with a first set of predefined functions depending on the selected macro modifier value <NUM>. The functions may differ from one basic modifier to another.

In step <NUM>, the basic modifier values <NUM> may be calculated with a second set of predefined functions depending on the selected macro modifier value <NUM>. The functions of the second set may differ from one or more functions of the first set and, additionally, from one basic modifier to another.

Steps <NUM> and <NUM> may be performed when the user has selected the first macro modifier mode as described above. Optionally, the method may continue in steps <NUM>' or <NUM>' when the user has selected the second macro modifier mode.

In step <NUM>', the basic modifier values <NUM> may be calculated with a third set of predefined functions depending on the selected macro modifier value <NUM>. The functions of the third set may differ from one or functions of the first set and/or the second set. The functions of the third set may additionally differ from one basic modifier to another.

In step <NUM>', the basic modifier values <NUM> may be calculated with a fourth set of predefined functions depending on the selected macro modifier value <NUM>. The functions of the fourth set may differ from one or more functions of the third set. Additionally, the functions of the fourth set may differ from one or more functions of the first set and/or the second set and/or from one basic modifier to another.

The functions used in steps <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>, <NUM>' may be mathematical functions for calculating the basic modifier values <NUM> with the sound processor <NUM> and/or lookup functions for selecting the basic modifier values <NUM> from one or more lookup tables stored in the memory <NUM>.

In step <NUM> the calculated basic modifier values <NUM> are applied to the corresponding basic modifiers. This means, for example, that the calculated basic modifier values <NUM> are used to set parameters of the sound processor <NUM> so that the sound signal output by the sound output device <NUM> is modified accordingly.

For example, a demand for increasing an overall volume and/or decreasing a dynamic, that is, for emphasizing soft sounds, of the output sound signal may be received when the macro modifier value <NUM> is increased in the first macro modifier mode. Inversely, a demand for decreasing an overall volume and/or increasing a dynamic, that is, for limiting loud sounds, of the output sound signal may be received when the macro modifier value <NUM> is decreased in the first macro modifier mode.

Additionally or alternatively, a demand for increasing noise canceling and/or speech focus and/or a middle volume and/or a treble volume and/or for decreasing a dynamic of the output sound signal may be received when the macro modifier value <NUM> is increased in the second macro modifier mode. Inversely, a demand for decreasing an overall volume and/or a treble volume and/or speech focus and/or for increasing noise canceling and/or a dynamic of the output sound signal may be received when the macro modifier value <NUM> is decreased in the second macro modifier mode.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) for controlling a sound output of a hearing device (<NUM>), wherein the hearing device (<NUM>) comprises basic modifiers adjustable by a user of the hearing device (<NUM>), each basic modifier having a range of basic modifier values (<NUM>; <NUM>) selectable by the user and each basic modifier modifying a sound processing of the hearing device (<NUM>) dependent on the respective basic modifier value (<NUM>; <NUM>);
wherein the method (<NUM>) comprises:
receiving (<NUM>) a macro modifier value (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for a macro modifier, wherein the macro modifier is associated with a subset of the basic modifiers and wherein the macro modifier value (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is selected by the user from a macro modifier range (<NUM>);
calculating (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>, <NUM>'), for each basic modifier in the subset, a basic modifier value (<NUM>; <NUM>), wherein the basic modifier value (<NUM>; <NUM>) is calculated with a predefined function based on the macro modifier value (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
applying (<NUM>) the calculated basic modifier values (<NUM>; <NUM>) to the basic modifiers such that the sound processing of the hearing device (<NUM>) is performed based on the basic modifiers adjusted with the calculated basic modifiers values (<NUM>; <NUM>);
wherein the macro modifier range (<NUM>) is divided into a first range (<NUM>) between a first value (<NUM>) and a neutral value (<NUM>) and a second range (<NUM>) between the neutral value (<NUM>) and a second value (<NUM>);
characterized in that,
when the macro modifier value (<NUM>) is selected from the first range (<NUM>), a value (<NUM>; <NUM>) of a basic modifier being a volume modifier is decreased and a value (<NUM>) of an additional basic modifier for limiting loud sounds is increased and, when the macro modifier value (<NUM>) is selected from the second range (<NUM>), the value (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the volume modifier is increased and the value (<NUM>) of the additional basic modifier for limiting loud sounds is decreased.