Method and system for on-line hearing examination using calibrated local machine

• US 6,522,988 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ototronix, LLC
• Original Assignee: Audix Technology Company Limited (Audix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hou, Zezhang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US09/540,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19, 702/54, 702/76, 702/85, 702/103, 702/106-108, 702/124, 702/183, 702/186-188, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.108, 702/FOR.115, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR-156, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 600/300, 600/559, 735/85, 379/74, 381/58, 381/59, 381/60, 381/312, 381/314, 381/315
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Improved approaches to assist those having hearing loss are disclosed. One approach pertains to providing on-line hearing loss testing. The on-line hearing loss testing can be self-performed without any specialized equipment. Another approach pertains to on-line sound customization. The sound customization can simulate hearing compensation on-line. As an example, the hearing compensation can be used to simulate hearing aid processing. Still another approach pertains to a recommendation and/or referral procedure.

Claims

1. A method for determining an amount of hearing loss for a participating subject, said method comprising the acts of:

(a) performing a calibration process on a local machine to produce calibration parameters, a reference subject and the local machine being used to produce the calibration parameters, and the reference subject being used to compare at least one sound generated by the local machine with at least one known reference sound;

(b) performing an on-line hearing loss test for the participating subject at the local machine to produce participant parameters; and

(c) determining hearing loss for the participating subject based on the participant parameters and the calibration parameters.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) providing a hearing loss report to the participating subject in accordance with the hearing loss.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the local machine is a computing device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the local machine is a personal computer.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining (c) of the hearing loss is performed at a web server, and wherein the local machine communicates with web server over a data network.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the data network comprises the Internet.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) informing the participating subject that they suffer from a hearing impairment based on the hearing loss.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) presenting a list of available hearing aid types to the participating subject when the hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) recommending on-line that the participating subject obtain a hearing assistance device when the hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) simulating enhanced hearing of the hearing assistance device to the participating subject.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said simulating (e) is on-line simulating.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said simulating (e) allows the participating subject to adjust parameters associated with the selected one of the available hearing aid types.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) simulating enhanced hearing to the participating subject, the enhanced hearing compensates for the hearing loss of the participating subject.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said simulating (d) is on-line simulating.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) simulating hearing impairment of the participating subject to another subject in accordance with the hearing loss of the participating subject.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said simulating (d) is on-line simulating.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) computerized simulating of a plurality of hearing assistance devices which enhance hearing to the participating subject by compensating for the hearing loss of the participating subject.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

36. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method does not require the local machine to have special purpose hardware.

19. A computer readable medium including computer program code for determining an amount of hearing loss for a participating subject, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for performing a calibration process on a local machine to produce calibration parameters, the calibration process making use of a reference subject and the local machine to produce the calibration parameters, and the reference subject being used to compare at least one sound generated by the local machine with at least one known reference sound;

computer program code for performing an on-line hearing loss test for the participating subject at the local machine to produce participant parameters; and

computer program code for determining hearing loss for the participating subject based on the participant parameters and the calibration parameters.

20. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for providing a hearing loss report to the participating subject in accordance with the hearing loss.

21. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer program code for determining the hearing loss is performed at a web server, and wherein the local machine communicates with web server over a data network.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the data network comprises the Internet.

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for informing the participating subject that they suffer from a hearing impairment based on the hearing loss.

24. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for presenting a list of available hearing aid types to the participating subject when the hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

25. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

26. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for recommending on-line that the participating subject obtain a hearing assistance device when the hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for on-line simulating enhanced hearing of the hearing assistance device to the participating subject.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein said computer program code for simulating allows the participating subject to adjust parameters associated with the selected one of the available hearing aid types.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

30. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for on-line simulating enhanced hearing to the participating subject, the enhanced hearing compensates for the hearing loss of the participating subject.

31. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

32. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for computerized simulating of a plurality of hearing assistance devices which enhance hearing to the participating subject by compensating for the hearing loss of the participating subject.

33. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

34. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for simulating hearing impairment of the participating subject to another subject in accordance with the hearing loss of the participating subject.

35. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19, wherein no special purpose hardware is utilized for performing any of the calibration process, the on-line hearing test or the determination of hearing loss.