The German Institute of Hearing Aids (Deutsches Hörgeräte Institut GmbH) in Lübeck is a test house accredited by the Deutschen Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and recognized by the Zentralstelle der Länder für Gesundheitsschutz bei Arzneimitteln und Medizinprodukten (ZLG) according to the Regulation (EU) 2017/745 or Medical Device Regulation (MDR). The institute has laboratories and acoustic test rooms for the homologation of hearing aids and for research. For some tests, the certificates can also be issued in English. An example is the test according to IEC 60118-0, which includes not only the signet of the DAkkS and ZLG but also the ILAC signet.
Laboratory
Testing
Our comprehensive facilities and equipment allow the testing of various devices and transducers from the area of hearing acoustics, e.g., as air- and bone conduction hearing aids, eardrum contact transducers, active middle ear implants, hearables, hearphones or hearing protectors. The focus of our laboratory activities is the testing of devices for approval in group 13 (hearing assistive devices) of the list of aids ("Hilfsmittelverzeichnis") issued by the National Assosiation of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband).
Development
Research
Our institute conducts research in various areas of hearing acoustics. We have access to
- extensive acoustic measurement equipment
- modern laboratories and facilities
- a database of subjects with a varying degree of hearing loss
- a large selection of current hearing aids
- rapid manufacturing via 3D printing
Studies
Teaching
The German Institute of Hearing Aids(DHI) is located next door to Technische Hochschule (University of Applied Sciences) Lübeck and University of Lübeck and contributes lectures to two study programmes:
- B.Sc. program "Hearing Acoustics"
- "Technologie und Messtechnik von Hörsystemen (TMH) - RB 1410" - mandatory subject, 5th Semester (Winter term)
- M.Sc. program "Hearing Acoustics and Auditory Technology (HAT)"
- "Hearing Aid Technology (HAT) - AT4102 T" - mandatory subject in 2nd semester (Summer term)
- "Acoustic Measurement Technology and Simulations (AMSi) - AT4170-KP04" - elective subject, 1st semester (Winter term)
Students have the opportunity to conduct their interships, Bachelor- or Master theses at DHI. We also provide regular interships or scientific jobs within specific projects.
Norms
Standardization
We actively contribute to the advancement of relevant norms in national (DKE GUK 821.6 Hörgeräte und audiometrische Messtechnik) and international (IEC TC29 Electroacoustics, ISO TC43 Acoustics) standardization committees. We contribute grounded modifications and can apply new standards in our laboratory rapidly, partly even before publication. In addition, this gives us a comprehensive overview over current relevant standards and upcoming changes.
