Systems, methods and products for diagnostic hearing assessments distributed via the use of a computer network
First Claim
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1. A hearing evaluation system, comprising:
- a diagnostic hearing test system with a communications interface that is configured to communicate with a remote computer associated with a clinician via the Internet, wherein the diagnostic hearing test system has a function generator and attenuator, and wherein the communications interface is configured to allow a clinician using the remote computer to control the function generator during a diagnostic hearing test to select test frequencies and sound levels of sound stimuli transmitted by the device to a patient during a hearing test.
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Abstract
The systems, methods and associated devices performing diagnostic hearing tests which use a computer network to allow interaction between a test administration site and one or a plurality of remote patient sites. The test can be administered by an audiologist or clinician at a site remote from the patient, in a manner, which can allow interaction between the user and the clinician during at least a portion of the administration of the test. The diagnostic hearing tests can be performed such that they meet standardized guidelines such as ANSI requirements or certification standards and can include distortion product emission level measurements or middle ear compliance measurements.
91 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hearing evaluation system, comprising:
a diagnostic hearing test system with a communications interface that is configured to communicate with a remote computer associated with a clinician via the Internet, wherein the diagnostic hearing test system has a function generator and attenuator, and wherein the communications interface is configured to allow a clinician using the remote computer to control the function generator during a diagnostic hearing test to select test frequencies and sound levels of sound stimuli transmitted by the device to a patient during a hearing test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A hearing evaluation system, comprising:
a diagnostic hearing test device with a processor and a communications interface that is configured to communicate with a remote computer associated with a clinician via a computer network, wherein the diagnostic hearing test device has a function generator, attenuator and audio analyzer in communication with the processor, wherein the communications interface is configured to allow a clinician using the remote computer to control the function generator and attenuator during a diagnostic hearing test to select test frequencies and sound levels of sound stimuli that comply with predetermined testing standards to be transmitted by the hearing test device to a respective patient during a hearing test, and wherein the diagnostic hearing test device is configured to allow substantially real-time interaction between the clinician at the remote site and the patient at a test site. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing diagnostic hearing evaluations using the Internet, comprising:
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connecting a hearing test device at a local patient site to a remote test administration site using the Internet, the hearing test device having an audiometer; allowing a clinician to control a diagnostic hearing evaluation test administered to a patient using the Internet and the hearing test device, wherein the clinician at the remote test administration site controls hearing assessment signals generated by the hearing test device at the local patient site and monitors the patient'"'"'s responses to the hearing assessment signals in substantially real time;
providing visual or audiovisual communication between the patient and the clinician during a hearing test session; andallowing the clinician at the remote test administration site to monitor noise at the patient test site during the hearing test session. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification