Patent ID: 7068802

Claim:
A method for operating a digital, programmable hearing aid, comprising: picking up an input signal with an input transducer; converting the input signal into an audio signal; processing and performing a frequency-dependent amplification of the audio signal with a signal processing unit; converting and outputting the audio signal with an output transducer; setting a maximum-amplification transmission characteristic of a maximum amplification of the audio signal over a frequency range; determining at least one amplification modification value in at least one frequency range from a parameter that can be set by at least one of a hearing aid user and a parameter that is automatically generated by the signal processing unit; providing a modified amplification transmission characteristic based on the at least one amplification modification value wherein the modified amplification transmission characteristic intersects the maximum-amplification transmission characteristic at an intersection frequency, the modification amplification transmission characteristic being limited by the maximum-amplification transmission characteristic only above the intersection frequency; setting a normal-amplification transmission characteristic of a normal amplification over frequency range that determines an initial amplification value for each frequency and serves as a basis for an amplification calculation that includes the modified amplification transmission characteristic used in the processing and performing of the frequency-dependent amplification of the audio signal.