Speech discrimination in automated diagnostic hearing test
First Claim
1. A computer-based, multimedia method for allowing a patient to quickly and conveniently test his speech discrimination threshold without a sound isolation chamber and with minimal assistance from an operator, comprising:
- selecting several word-picture groups from a pool of word-picture groups for presentation to the patient;
determining an optimal intensity level and a masking level to be used for the presentation, the optimal intensity level determined based on hearing test data for the patient, the hearing test data obtained during a previous hearing test;
presenting the word-picture groups to the patient one word-picture group at a time at the optimal intensity level and the masking level;
checking whether termination conditions have been met upon receiving a response to the presentation; and
generating a speech discrimination accuracy score based on the responses from the patient if the termination conditions have been met;
wherein determination of the optimal intensity includes calculating a best performance point on a performance intensity curve.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 with minimal or no assistance from an audiologist or other hearing health professionals. The test prompts and instructs the patient for inputs and responses as needed as needed. The patient can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, and tympanogram/acoustic reflex testing. 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 ambient noise and can compensate for it 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
21 Claims
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1. A computer-based, multimedia method for allowing a patient to quickly and conveniently test his speech discrimination threshold without a sound isolation chamber and with minimal assistance from an operator, comprising:
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selecting several word-picture groups from a pool of word-picture groups for presentation to the patient; determining an optimal intensity level and a masking level to be used for the presentation, the optimal intensity level determined based on hearing test data for the patient, the hearing test data obtained during a previous hearing test; presenting the word-picture groups to the patient one word-picture group at a time at the optimal intensity level and the masking level; checking whether termination conditions have been met upon receiving a response to the presentation; and generating a speech discrimination accuracy score based on the responses from the patient if the termination conditions have been met; wherein determination of the optimal intensity includes calculating a best performance point on a performance intensity curve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-based, multimedia system for allowing a patient to quickly and conveniently test his own speech discrimination threshold without a sound isolation chamber and with minimal assistance from an operator, comprising:
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transducers; a hearing test device capable of producing tones, speech, and masking noise connected to the transducers; and 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; select several word-picture groups from a pool of word-picture groups for presentation to the patient; determine an optimal intensity level and a masking level to be used for the presentation, the optimal intensity level determined based on hearing test data acquired during a previous hearing test for the patient; present the word-picture groups to the patient one word-picture group at a time at the optimal intensity level and the masking level; check whether termination conditions have been met upon receiving a response to the presentation; and generate a speech discrimination accuracy score based on the responses from the patient if the termination conditions have been met; wherein determination of the optimum intensity level includes calculating a best performance point on a performance intensity curve. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-based, multimedia method for allowing a patient to quickly and conveniently test his speech discrimination threshold without a sound isolation chamber and with minimal assistance from an operator, comprising:
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selecting a word for presentation to the patient; determining an optimal intensity level to be used for the presentation, the optimum intensity level determined using hearing test data from a pure tone threshold test of the patient; presenting the word to the patient at the optimal intensity level; checking whether termination conditions have been met upon receiving a response to the presentation; and generating a speech discrimination accuracy score based on responses from the patient if the termination conditions have been met. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification