WO2013087120A1

WO2013087120A1 - Method for operating a hearing system and at least one audio system

Info

Publication number: WO2013087120A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/073050
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Perels; Urs FURRER; Michael Bungert; Rino Eichmann; Anne-Sofie MICHOT; Christelle SOULET
Original assignee: Phonak AG
Current assignee: Sonova Holding AG
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2013-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-16

Abstract

A hearing system (2) and an audio system (3) are jointly used by a user (1). The hearing system (2) presents a secondary sound (19) to the user (1). The audio system (3) functions as a sound source. It transmits a primary sound (17) to the hearing system (2). The secondary sound (19) is generated based on this primary sound (17) and on environment sound. The hearing system (20) is able to recognize user actions (20) by which the user (1) signals that he or she is not content with the sound quality. It determines if the sound quality can be better improved by adjusting the hearing system (2) or the audio system (3) and adjust accordingly. The solution is user-friendly because the user does not have to choose between multiple control buttons. The sound quality may be improved because wanted sources may be selectively amplified.

Description

Method for operating a hearing system and at least one audio system

Technical Field The invention relates to the field of hearing systems. More particularly, it relates to a method for jointly operating a hearing system and at least one audio system, wherein said hearing system is carried at least partially at a body of its user and presents a secondary sound to said user and wherein said at least one audio system functions as a sound source and/or as a sound signal source and transmits a primary sound and/or a primary sound signal to said hearing system, said secondary sound being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on said primary sound and/or said primary sound signal, said secondary sound further being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on environment sound picked up by at least one environment microphone. Further, it relates to a system for carrying out such a method.

Background of the Invention

A hearing system is a system which relates to the hearing of an individual. Typically it may comprise as main components one or two hearing aids, also denoted hearing prostheses, external and/or implanted, serving for compensating a hearing loss of the individual. The hearing system may further comprise a remote control which allows to adjust the parameters of the hearing system, such as volume and hearing program.

An audio system is a system for providing audio. It may for example be a home audio system or a vehicle audio system. The audio system may present the audio acoustically by loudspeakers and/or it may provide an audio signal non-acoustically, e.g. electrically or electromagnetic ally. The audio system may comprise a sound receiver, such as a radio receiver, and/or a sound storage medium, such as a CD or a memory with mp3 files. The audio system may further comprise a remote control which allows to adjust the parameters of the audio system, such as volume or song number to be played. It is known from US 2008 / 0181442 Al, in particular Fig.17, that an earpiece (e.g. a hearing aid) transmits signals to a computer. If the sound dose at the ear of a child exceeds a threshold an email is sent to a parent. Alternatively a playlist of an audio player is reviewed or an audio playback system is shut down. It is known from DE 102 22 408 Al and DE 10 2005 020 315 Al to integrate a hearing system into an intelligent home. The user interface of a hearing aid can be used for controlling the hearing system as well as the intelligent home. Data transmission may be carried out by a WLAN.

It is known from US 2007 / 0009124 Al to connect hearing aids to a special wireless network. A broadcast system, e.g. a television set, and a cordless phone may be connected to the network as well.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for operating a hearing system and at least one audio system in a user-friendly way and/or in a way which provides good sound quality. It is a further object to provide a system for implementing such a method.

These objects are achieved by a method as defined in claim 1 and a system as defined in claim 15.

The invention is advantageous in that the end-user can always use a user control of the hearing system, for example a volume control on an ear-level hearing aid, and the system decides for him or her whether it is better to adjust the hearing system and/or the at least one audio system. This is user-friendly and opens up the possibility to provide a good sound quality.

The method of claim 3 is advantageous in that it opens up the possibility of reducing the disturbance of individuals other than the user.

The method of claim 5 is advantageous in that it opens up the possibility to further improve the accuracy of the determination which system or systems are best to adjust. The method of claim 11 is advantageous in that it opens up the possibility to carry out the following:

- It can be determined if a particular sound system reacts at all and/or if it is switched on. - It can be determined which part of the environment sound or which hearing system input signal originates from a particular audio system. For example, the environment sound of a user watching TV may comprise a music part and a speech part. By carrying out supervised adjustments the system is enabled to determine that the part originating from the TV is the speech part and not the music part. - Adjustments of an audio system can be carried out more precisely. Instead of just somehow increasing the volume, it may be increased by exactly 5 dB, even if there are multiple audio systems having different adjustment step sizes.

- The number of user actions necessary until a desired adjustment has been found can be reduced, for example by adjusting an audio system more than once in response to a single user action.

The method of claim 11 is especially advantageous in cases where an audio system cannot deliver information about the current adjustability and the currently produced sound, for example if the link between hearing system and audio system is an unidirectional infra-red channel. Further embodiments and advantages emerge from the claims and the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below, the invention is described in more detail by referring to the drawings showing exemplified embodiments.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hearing system, its user and three audio systems;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a method carried out in response to a user action; Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a further method carried out in response to a user action;

Fig. 4 is an illustration of a hearing system, its user, a home audio system and a noise source;

Fig. 5 is an illustration of a hearing system, its user and a television set. The described embodiments are meant as examples and shall not confine the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hearing system user 1, a hearing system 2, a first audio system 3, a second audio system 4 and a third audio system 5. According to the invention, there is at least one audio system 3. The hearing system 2 is carried at least partially at the body of its user 1. The hearing system 2 presents a secondary sound 19 to said user 1. The term "secondary sound" is used because it is the result of a processing of one or more primary sound signals and/or primary sounds, as for example an environment sound. The audio system 3 functions as a sound source and/or as a sound signal source and transmits a primary sound 17 and/or a primary sound signal 18 to the hearing system 2. Sound is here regarded to be something "acoustic", while the sound signal is regarded to be something "non-acoustic", e.g. something electric or electromagnetic. Emission by a loudspeaker and pick-up by a microphone is regarded a way of transmission. The audio system may have a sound memory 16, for example a flash memory with mp3 files. Hence, it may for example be an mp3 player. It may also have sound receiving means, for example a radio receiver or television receiver. The output may be provided acoustically by a loudspeaker, electrically by a sound signal output connector or electromagnetically by an antenna or a transmitter 12. The audio system may further be or comprise one or more of the following: a personal computer, a set of powered speakers, a home audio system, a telephone, a smart phone, a portable media player and a digital audio player.

Acoustic transmission from the audio system 3 to the hearing system 2 may be based on at least one audio system loudspeaker 13 and at least one hearing system environment microphone 11. Amplification can be adjusted at amplifier 15 before transmission and/or at amplifier 9 after transmission. Acoustic transmission may be temporarily interrupted. For example, during a phone call with non-acoustic transmission from the phone to the hearing system 2, the environment microphone 11 of the hearing system 2 may be switched off, such that an audio system other than the phone is perceived as temporarily muted. The term "environment microphone" is used to indicate that the main purpose of the microphone is to pick up sound from the surroundings of a user, as it is known from a conventional hearing aid. There may be further microphones, for example an ear canal microphone designed to pick up sound in front of the eardrum of the user.

Non-acoustical transmission from the audio system 3 to the hearing system 2 may be based on sending or output means in the audio system and on receiving or input means in the hearing system 2. Amplification can be adjusted at amplifier 14 before transmission and at amplifier 8 after transmission. The non-acoustical transmission may be only temporarily, as for example during the above mentioned telephone use case. The non-acoustical transmission can be implemented by one or more of the following:

- wire based transmission, in particular based on a wire connecting an analog output connector of at least one audio system 3, 4, 5 with an analog input connector of a streaming device of the hearing system 2; - wireless transmission, in particular between an antenna or electromagnetic transmitter 12 of the at least one audio system 3, 4, 5 and an antenna or electromagnetic receiver 10 of a streaming device or a hearing aid of the hearing system 2, for example based on Bluetooth;

- an optical fiber based digital transmission, for example based on TOSLINK. The secondary sound 19 is generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on the primary sound 17, i.e. something acoustic, and/or based on the primary sound signal 18, i.e. something non-acoustic. The secondary sound 19 is generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on environment sound picked up by the at least one environment microphone 11. The hearing system further comprises a user control 7. In a preferred embodiment the hearing system 2 is configured for compensating a hearing loss of the user 1 and comprises one or more of the following:

- one or two hearing aids, in particular configured for communicating wirelessly with each other; - one or two cochlear implants, each comprising an implanted part and an external part, said external parts in particular configured for communicating wirelessly with each other;

- a remote control configured to be operated by the user 1 and for sending adjustment instructions wirelessly to said one or two hearing aids or to, as the case may be, the one or two cochlear implants;

- a sound streaming device configured for receiving a sound signal and for sending it wirelessly to the one or two hearing aids or the one or two cochlear implants. The sound streaming device may be integrated with the above mentioned remote control in one device; Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a method carried out in response to a user action. The method is an example of an embodiment of the invention. The method is carried out using a hearing system and one audio system. However, the presented principles can also be applied to embodiments with more than one audio system. The hearing system may comprise subsystems, in particular ear-level hearing aids and a sound streaming device. Typically one of these subsystems will be primarily responsible for controlling the execution of the method steps. For this it may comprise a microcontroller with a memory. The memory stores software or instructions by which the method is carried out. In step 21 the hearing system recognizes a user action 20 by which a user of the hearing system signals that he or she is not content with the quality of a secondary sound provided by the hearing system. A typical reason for not being content is an insufficient signal-to-noise ratio. The user action is carried out by operating a user control of the hearing system. The user control is in particular one or more of the following:

- a user control on a remote control; - a user control on an ear-level hearing aid; - a user control on an external part of a cochlear implant;

- a user control on a streaming device;

- a volume control or a program toggle;

- an up/down switch, a rocker switch, a push button, an adjustment wheel, a touch screen, a keyboard, a camera and/or a body sensor;

In step 22 the hearing system determines, if possible, based on one or more determination criteria if the sound quality can be better improved by an adjustment of the hearing system or an adjustment of the audio system. The term "if possible" is used because it may be determined that both systems have an equal quality improvement potential or probability. If there is more than one audio system involved the hearing system also determines, if possible, an adjustment of which audio system best improves the quality. In step 23 and 24 the hearing system and/or the audio system or systems are adjusted according to the determination of step 22. In a particular embodiment only one entity, the hearing system or one of the audio systems, is adjusted. However, also multiple entities may be adjusted, in particular in a weighted manner. An adjustment is typically a volume increase or decrease. However, it may also be a tonal balance or equalizer adjustment, an input channel selection such as a language or TV-program selection or an output channel selection such a choosing between Bluetooth and WLAN-based audio streaming. Transmission of adjustment instructions from the hearing system to the audio system can be implemented based one or more of the following: an infra-red transmitter and receiver, consumer infrared, RC-5 protocol, Infrared Data Association, Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi™, a wireless local area network, a local area network, a body area network, a switch, a router, a hub, TCP/IP, the internet, the World Wide Web, HTTP, FTP, SNMP, electronic mail, short message service, FM, DECT, GSM, UMTS, LTE, wireless, a wireless network, radio, microwave, sound, ultrasound and manual adjustment by the user based on a visual or acoustic indication given by the hearing system.

The one or more determination criteria comprise in particular one or more of the following: - a hearing program selected manually by the user; - a hearing program selected automatically by the hearing system, for example based on the environment sound, the time of day and/or user habits;

- a hearing preference indicated by the user, in particular a prioritizing of clarity and/or pleasantness; - an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of the secondary sound;

- an estimated signal-to-noise level of sound in front of an eardrum of the user, in particular determined based on a signal provided by an ear canal microphone;

- a threshold level, which is not to be exceeded in front of said eardrum, in particular a uncomfortable or pain hearing threshold level of the user; - a current volume level of the hearing system;

- a maximum volume level of the hearing system;

- an existence of a communication link to the at least one audio system;

- an adjustability of an audio system by the hearing system;

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or a sound type of the environment sound; - a default or random selection to be used in the case that other criteria do not indicate preference of a particular selection.

If the hearing system receives not only an acoustic environment sound but also a non- acoustic, primary sound signal there are further determination criteria:

- a detection of a non-acoustic primary sound signal by the hearing system; - an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or sound type of the non-acoustic primary sound signal;

- a correlation of said non-acoustic primary sound signal and a signal obtained using an environment microphone;

- an estimation of headroom available in regard to a transmission of said non-acoustic primary sound signal from said at least one audio system to said hearing system; In the following more specific examples are described:

In a first example the user action is a volume or intelligibility plus, up or increase command, by which the user indicates that he or she wants to hear more or better. The sound quality is improved by adjusting the volume of the hearing system and/or by adjusting the volume of the audio system. The adjusting is a turning-down or turning- up, for example depending on a signal-to-noise estimate of a sound signal being adjusted. If an environment sound signal contains speech of a television set and noise of a vacuum cleaner, the volume of the television set is turned up, while the volume of the hearing aid is turned down. This procedure may comprise detecting the current environment sound type as "speech in noise" and detecting that there is a controllable television set in the vicinity of the hearing system.

In a second example the user action is a hearing program selection command, by which the user indicates that he or she wants to focus on a particular sound-type, such a "music". The sound quality is improved by adjusting the volume of the hearing system and/or by adjusting the volume of the audio system. The adjusting is a turning-down or turning-up, in particular depending on whether or how well a sound-type of a sound signal being adjusted corresponds to the particular sound-type. For example when the user selects "music" the volume of a CD-player is turned up, while the volume of the hearing aid may remain unchanged. The volume of a telephone may be muted. In a third example the user action is the selection of a hearing program associated with a particular audio system or a plus, up or increase command while being in such a hearing program. By this the user indicates that he or she wants to focus on an output of a particular audio system as for example a television set. The sound quality is improved by turning-up the volume of the particular audio system and/or by turning-down the volume of the hearing system, in particular to compensate partially the turning-up, and/or, if applicable, by turning-down the volume of further audio systems.

Conventionally a hearing program defines how sound is to be processed in a hearing aid. According to the above examples it also defines how the hearing system responds to user actions. Fig. 3 is a flow chart similar to the one of Fig. 2. It shows also a method carried out in response to a user action. The method is a further example of an embodiment of the invention. Unlike the method of Fig. 2 the method of Fig. 3 comprises a reading of status data from the audio system as well as measuring an effect of an adjustment. Additional adjustments a carried out in response to an outcome of previous adjustments. In step 31 the hearing system recognizes the user action 30 by which a user of the hearing system signals that he or she is not content with the sound quality of the hearing system. In step 32 the hearing system requests status data from the audio system. In step 33 the audio system sends status data to the hearing system. Steps 32 and 33 do not have to be carried out in response to a user action. They may also be carried out periodically and/or preparatively. Further, the audio system may send status information without a request, for example periodically upon status changes. In step 34 the hearing system determines if it is better to adjust the hearing system or the audio system based on determination criteria. The status data may be used as additional determination criteria and may comprise one or more of the following:

- an on/off state of the audio system; - an adjustability of the audio system;

- a current volume level of the audio system;

- a maximum volume level of the audio system;

- a current volume headroom of the audio system;

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or a sound type of sound currently presented by the audio system;

- any data associated with sound currently presented by the audio system, in particular song title, song length, album, track, artist, composer, conductor, genre, filename, file- size, language, publisher, release year and/or play position;

- an availability of alternative sound delivery means of the audio system, for example speakers or sound signal channels such as Bluetooth, T-coil or FM.

For example, if the user selects the hearing program "speech" and the current sound type reported by the audio system is a "audio book" the volume of the audio system may be increased as illustrated by step 36. However, if the current sound type reported by the audio system is "music" the volume may be decreased. An advantage of the described solutions may also be a reduction of the disturbance of persons other than the hearing system user. If the hearing system detects the presence of a non-acoustic channel it may automatically switch to it, such that the volume up commands of a hearing impaired are without effect on the normal hearing individuals. As already indicated the hearing system may carry out a measurement of an effect of the adjustment of the audio system. Such an adjustment is called in the present document "supervised adjustment". The effect of the adjustment can for example be determined in a relative manner by comparing measurement results from before and after the adjustment or it can be determined in an absolute manner by only evaluating measurement results from after the adjustment, thereby focusing on the outcome rather than on the impact of the adjustment. Measurement results from after the adjustment may also be compared with a target value. The outcome of such a supervision is used in decision steps 37 and 38. In step 37 hearing system determines if the adjustment of the audio system had any effect at all. If there is no effect the hearing system may simply ignore the user action 30 or it may, as shown in the figure, adjust the internal volume instead by proceeding with step 35. In step 38 the hearing system determines if the signal-to-noise ratio was sufficiently improved by the adjustment. If not, it may initiate a further adjustment of the audio system, as shown by the no-arrow in the figure. The further adjustment may also be a partial undoing of an excessive adjustment. However, the hearing system may also initiate an adjustment of a further audio system or of the hearing system. In particular embodiments the step 34 of determining the system to be adjusted may be a pure guessing, for example if speech perception is to be improved, but the system doesn't know if the speech originates from a radio receiver or from a person talking. The system may then, in a trial and error manner, turn up the radio receiver. If the speech content of the signal increases by this action the decision was right and the radio receiver volume can be further increased, if the decision was wrong the radio receiver volume must be decreased instead and/or the hearing system volume, and thereby the environment sound amplification, must be increased. The feedback loop of evaluation and readjustment may be repeated several times until a target effect has been accomplished. Instead of the signal-to-noise ratio other sound quality measures may be used, as for example the degree of presence of a particular sound type or simply the overall sound pressure level. The status readout of step 32 may also be replaced by a supervised tentative adjustment. For example the volume may be turned down slightly and shortly just enough to check if the audio system responds. Such a tentative adjustment may be undone directly after measuring its effect. The result may then be used as a determination criterion in step 34. Fig. 4 is an illustration of a hearing system, its user 1, a home audio system and a noise source 49, namely a jackhammer. The hearing system comprises a right hearing aid 42, a left hearing aid 43 and a hearing aid remote control 44. The two hearing aids 42, 43 communicate with each other over a hearing instrument body area network. The audio system comprises a laptop computer 46 functioning as audio player as well as two powered speakers 47 and 48. The hearing system is communicating with the audio system over a wireless LAN router 45. The user 1 wants to listen to music presented acoustically by the home audio system, however the jackhammer on the street is disturbing. The user 1 selects the hearing program "music". Conventionally pressing "plus" on the remote control 44 would increase the volume of the hearing aids. However, according to the invention, the hearing system detects that the sound quality, namely the signal-to-noise ratio, can be better improved by increasing the volume of the home audio system and slightly decreasing the volume of the hearing system. The hearing system therefore sends a volume up command to the home audio system over the wireless LAN router 45. Fig. 5 is an illustration of a hearing system, its user 1 and a television set 51. The hearing system comprises a right hearing aid 42, an audio streaming device 53 and a hearing aid remote control 44. A wire 52 connects an earphone output jack of the television set 51 with an audio input jack of the audio streaming device 53. The audio streaming device 53 forwards the audio signal of the television set 51 to the hearing aid 42 wirelessly by a hearing instrument body area network. The hearing system is operated in an "alternative input source" mode. In this mode environment microphones may be attenuated or completely muted. When the user 1 pushes "plus" or "minus" on the remote control the hearing system detects that the main audio source is currently an external audio system, namely the television set 51. The adjustment instruction is therefore forwarded to the television, for example by an infrared LED mounted on the streaming device 53. If the hearing system would simply amplify the weak signal provided electrically by the television set 51 noise coupled into the wire 52 would be amplified as well. Since there is no data link from the television set 51 to the hearing system the adjustment may be carried out in a trial-and-error manner as described referring to Fig. 3.

Claims

A method for jointly operating a hearing system (2) and at least one audio system (3, 4, 5), wherein said hearing system (2) is carried at least partially at a body of its user (1) and presents a secondary sound (19) to said user (1) and wherein said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) functions as a sound source and/or as a sound signal source and transmits a primary sound (17) and/or a primary sound signal (18) to said hearing system (2), said secondary sound (19) being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on said primary sound (17) and/or said primary sound signal (18), said secondary sound (19) further being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on environment sound picked up by at least one environment microphone (11), said method comprising the steps of:

A) recognizing a user action (20) by which a user (1) of said hearing system (2) signals that he or she is not content with a sound quality of said secondary sound (19) of said hearing system (2);

B) carrying out a determination (22, 34) based on one or more determination criteria, an outcome of said determination (22, 34) indicating, if possible, if said sound quality can be better improved by an adjustment of said hearing system (2) or an adjustment of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5), and indicating, if applicable and possible, an adjustment of which of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) best improves said sound quality;

C) carrying out an adjustment (23, 35) of said hearing system (2) and/or an adjustment (24, 36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) based on said outcome of said determination (22, 34).

The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more determination criteria comprise one or more of the following:

- a hearing program, in particular a hearing program selected manually by said user (1) and/or a hearing program selected automatically by said hearing system (2); - a hearing preference indicated by said user (1);

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of said secondary sound (19);

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of sound in front of an eardrum of said user (1), in particular determined based on a signal provided by an ear canal microphone; - a threshold level, which is not to be exceeded in front of said eardrum, in particular an uncomfortable or pain hearing threshold level of said user (1);

- a current volume level of said hearing system (2);

- a maximum volume level of said hearing system (2);

- an existence of a communication link to said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5); - an adjustability of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) by said hearing system (2);

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or a sound type of said environment sound;

- a default or random selection to be used in the case that other that other criteria do not indicate preference of a particular selection. 3. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) transmits at least temporarily a primary sound signal (18) non-acoustically to said hearing system (2), in particular by one or more of the following:

- wire based transmission, in particular based on a wire connecting an analog output connector of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) with an analog input connector of a streaming device (53) of said hearing system (2);

- wireless transmission, in particular between a wireless transmitter (12) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) and a wireless receiver (10) of a streaming device (53) or a hearing aid (42, 43) of said hearing system (2);

- an optical fiber based digital transmission. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more determination criteria comprise one or more of the following: - a detection of said primary sound signal (18) by said hearing system (2);

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or sound type of said primary sound signal (18);

- a correlation of said primary sound signal (18) and a signal generated using said at least one environment microphone (11);

- an estimation of headroom available in regard to a transmission of said primary sound signal (18) from said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) to said hearing system (2);

The method of one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of:

- requesting status data from said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) by said hearing system (2);

- sending status data from said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) to said hearing system (2);

The method of claim 5 wherein said one or more determination criteria comprise one or more of the following:

- an on/off state of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- an adjustability of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- a current volume level of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- a maximum volume level of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- a current volume headroom of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- an estimated signal-to-noise ratio and/or sound type of a sound currently being provided by said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

- song title, song length, album, track, artist, composer, conductor, genre, filename, file-size, bandwidth, sampling rate, language, publisher, release year and/or play position of sound currently being provided by said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5); - an availability of alternative sound delivery means of said at least on audio system (3, 4, 5).

The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said hearing system (2) is configured for compensating a hearing loss of said user (1) and comprises one or more of the following:

- one or two hearing aids (42, 43), in particular configured for communicating wirelessly with each other;

- one or two cochlear implants, each comprising an implanted part and an external part, said external parts in particular configured for communicating wirelessly with each other;

- a remote control (44) configured to be operated by said user (1) and for sending adjustment instructions wirelessly to further entities of said hearing system (2), in particular to said one or two hearing aids (42, 43) or to said one or two cochlear implants;

- a sound streaming device (53) configured for receiving a sound signal and for sending it wirelessly to further entities of said hearing system (2), in particular to said one or two hearing aids (42) or to said one or two cochlear implants, said sound streaming device (53) in particular being integrated with said remote control (44) in one device;

The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) comprises:

- at least one of a sound memory (16) and a sound receiving means;

- at least one of a loudspeaker (13), a wireless sound signal transmitter (12) and a sound signal output connector; said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) in particular being or comprising one or more of the following:

- a home audio system (46, 46, 48);

- a television (51); - a portable media player, digital audio player or mp3 -player;

- a telephone (61) or a smart phone (61);

- a personal computer (46);

- a set of powered speakers (47, 48); 9. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said determination (22, 34) is carried out by said hearing system (2), in particular by one or more of the following:

- an ear-level hearing aid (42, 43);

- a sound streaming device (53);

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said adjustment of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) is carried out by said hearing system (2) by transmitting adjustment instructions to said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5), said adjustment in particular being one or more of the following:

- a volume adjustment;

- a tonal balance or equalizer adjustment; - an input channel selection;

- an output channel selection.

11. The method of one of the preceding claims comprising the step of carrying out a supervised adjustment (36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5), said supervised adjustment (36) being supervised in that an effect of it is measured by said hearing system (2).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a tentative adjustment of said at least on audio system (3, 4, 5) is supervised and said determination (22, 34) of step B) accordingly comprises the steps of

- carrying out said tentative adjustment; - carrying out a measurement of an effect of said tentative adjustment; - in particular undoing said tentative adjustment;

- using a result of said measurement as a determination criterion.

13. The method of one of the claims 11 and 12, wherein said adjustment (24, 36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) of step C) is supervised, said method accordingly further comprising the steps of:

D) carrying out, if applicable, a measurement of an effect of said adjustment (24, 36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

E) if indicated by a result of said measurement, carrying out a further adjustment (23, 35) of said hearing system (2) and/or a further adjustment (24, 36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5);

F) in particular, carrying out steps D) and E) iteratively until a target effect has been accomplished or no further improvement is possible.

14. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein said user action is carried out by operating a user control (7) of said hearing system (2), said user control (7) being in particular one or more of the following:

- a user control on a remote control (44);

- a user control on an ear-level hearing aid (42, 43);

- a user control on an external part of a cochlear implant;

- a user control on a streaming device (53); - a volume control or a program toggle;

- an up/down switch, a rocker switch, a push button, an adjustment wheel, a touch screen, a multi-touch sensor, a keyboard, a camera and/or a body sensor;

15. A system for carrying out the method of claim 1 comprising:

- a hearing system (2) designed to be carried at least partially at a body of its user (1) and to present a secondary sound (19) to said user (1), said secondary sound (19) being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on a primary sound (17) and/or a primary sound signal (18), said secondary sound (19) further being generated at least temporarily and/or partially based on environment sound picked up by at least one environment microphone (11), said hearing system (2) being configured for recognizing a user action (20) by which a user (1) of said hearing system (2) signals that he or she is not content with a sound quality of said secondary sound (19) of said hearing system (2);

- at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) designed to function as a sound source and/or as a sound signal source and to transmit said primary sound (17) and/or said primary sound signal (18) to said hearing system (2); characterized in that said hearing system (2) is configured for carrying out a determination (22, 34) based on one or more determination criteria, an outcome of said determination (22, 34) indicating, if possible, if said sound quality can be better improved by an adjustment of said hearing system (2) or an adjustment of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5), and indicating, if applicable and possible, an adjustment of which of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) best improves said sound quality and for carrying out an adjustment (23, 35) of said hearing system (2) and/or and an adjustment (24, 36) of said at least one audio system (3, 4, 5) based on said outcome of said determination (22, 34).