STENGER SCREENING IN AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC HEARING TEST
First Claim
1. A computer-based, multimedia method for conducting Stenger screening of a patient, comprising:
- performing a pure tone frequency threshold test on the patient, wherein data obtained during one iteration of the test may be used in subsequent iterations of the test;
checking whether the patient warrants Stenger screening based on the pure tone frequency threshold test;
automatically administering a predetermined number of Stenger tests to the patient if it is determined that the patient warrants Stenger screening; and
determining whether the patient passes or fails the Stenger screening based on a number of positive Stengers produced by the patient.
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Abstract
Method and system are disclosed for automated testing of a patient'"'"'s hearing. The automated hearing test allows the patient to quickly and accurately test his own hearing. The patient is instructed and prompted for inputs and responses as needed. The patient and/or operator can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, tympanogram, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Stenger screening is automatically performed for some patients based on the difference in pure tone frequency air conduction thresholds. Multiple languages are supported. Data obtained from one test may be used for another test or another iteration of the same test to calculate masking levels. The automatic hearing test also detects and compensates for ambient noise in the test results. If a contingency occurs, the automated hearing test is configured to page the operator for assistance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-based, multimedia method for conducting Stenger screening of a patient, comprising:
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performing a pure tone frequency threshold test on the patient, wherein data obtained during one iteration of the test may be used in subsequent iterations of the test; checking whether the patient warrants Stenger screening based on the pure tone frequency threshold test; automatically administering a predetermined number of Stenger tests to the patient if it is determined that the patient warrants Stenger screening; and determining whether the patient passes or fails the Stenger screening based on a number of positive Stengers produced by the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for conducting Stenger screening of a patient, comprising:
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transducers, including an air conduction transducer and a bone conduction transducer; a hearing test device connected to the transducers; a computer connected to the hearing test device and storing an automated hearing test thereon, the automated hearing test configured to cause the computer to; perform a pure tone frequency threshold test on the patient, wherein data obtained during one iteration of the test may be used in subsequent iterations of the test; check whether the patient warrants Stenger screening based on the pure tone frequency threshold test; administer a predetermined number of Stenger tests to the patient if it is determined that the patient warrants Stenger screening; and determine whether the patient passes or fails the Stenger screening based on a number of positive Stengers produced by the patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-based, multimedia method for conducting Stenger screening of a patient, comprising:
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checking whether a difference in pure tone frequency air conduction thresholds for the patient'"'"'s ears exceeds a preset limit for a given pure tone frequency; presenting a pure tone frequency in a good ear of the patient at an intensity level that is higher than that ear'"'"'s pure tone threshold by a predetermined amount and simultaneously presenting the pure tone frequency in a poor ear of the patient at an intensity level that is lower than that ear'"'"'s pure tone threshold by a predetermined amount if the difference is greater than a preset difference limit; and determining whether the patient passes or fails the Stenger screening, wherein the patient fails the Stenger screening if a number of positive Stengers is the same as or greater than a number of negative Stengers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification