System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests with ambient noise measurement
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a hearing test on a first ear of a patient in a test area comprising:
- presenting a predetermined sound to the first ear for a desired time interval, wherein said presenting comprises sequentially presenting a series of test tones and recording a plurality of threshold hearing values corresponding to each said tone;
simultaneously with each said test tone presentation, recording an ambient noise level;
comparing the recorded ambient noise level to a maximum permissible ambient noise level; and
determining whether the recorded ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level;
repeating for a preset number of times the step of presenting the predetermined sound to the first ear if the recorded ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level, wherein said test proceeds regardless of whether an ambient noise level is detected that is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level, and whereinif said ambient noise level exceeds said maximum permissible level during each said presentation of each said tone, logging the best of said recorded threshold levels, wherein said best level is the threshold level recorded when the ambient noise level is the lowest of said recorded ambient noise levels, whereby test results are obtained.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for conducting hearing tests with real-time ambient noise measurement are provided. More particularly, one or more microphones are provided to measure ambient noise in a test area during a time interval in which hearing test tones are provided to the patient. By measuring ambient noise during the actual presentation of the test tones, or at least near in time thereto, a much better indication of the reliability of the hearing test is provided. Methods of conducting a hearing test are also provided that comprise presenting a test tone to a patient and simultaneously measuring the ambient noise in the test area during at least a portion of the presentation of the test tone.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a hearing test on a first ear of a patient in a test area comprising:
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presenting a predetermined sound to the first ear for a desired time interval, wherein said presenting comprises sequentially presenting a series of test tones and recording a plurality of threshold hearing values corresponding to each said tone; simultaneously with each said test tone presentation, recording an ambient noise level; comparing the recorded ambient noise level to a maximum permissible ambient noise level; and
determining whether the recorded ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level;repeating for a preset number of times the step of presenting the predetermined sound to the first ear if the recorded ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level, wherein said test proceeds regardless of whether an ambient noise level is detected that is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level, and wherein if said ambient noise level exceeds said maximum permissible level during each said presentation of each said tone, logging the best of said recorded threshold levels, wherein said best level is the threshold level recorded when the ambient noise level is the lowest of said recorded ambient noise levels, whereby test results are obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification