Method and apparatus for hearing aid subscription support

摘要

A hearing aid distribution and service plan based on periodic subscription serves a wide range of hearing aid users with various needs for functionality and considerations for financial or value. One or more codes are provided for each hearing aid to allow for fitting by an authorized professional and enablement of one or more specified functions for a specified period. In various examples, the present hearing aid includes hearing assistance circuitry with a programming lock configured to receive an unlocking signal and a locking signal. In various examples, a hearing aid fitting device for communicating with a hearing aid includes a user interface configured to receive a lock code enabling a lock functionality that allows the hearing aid to be unlocked for fitting and locked for preventing from the fitting. The present application includes variations of a method for subscription-based hearing aid distribution.

主权项

1. A hearing aid, comprising:
hearing assistance circuitry programmable for performing one or mare hearing assistance functions; a programming lock configured to store a lock code and receive an unlocking signal and a locking signal, allow reprogramming of the hearing assistance circuitry to adjust the one or more hearing assistance functions and erase the stored lock code in response to the unlocking signal including a lock code matching the stored lock code, and disallow the reprogramming and store a received lock code in response to the locking signal with which the received lock code is transmitted to the hearing aid; and a subscription timer configured to receive a subscription signal and enable the one or more hearing assistance functions of the hearing assistance circuitry and allow for the reprogramming for a subscription period.