CALIBRATED DIGITAL HEADSET AND AUDIOMETRIC TEST METHODS THEREWITH

• US 20100191143A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ctone Limited
• Original Assignee: Cleartone Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Ganter, Declan B., Graham, Fintan J., Ganter, Martin C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/559
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/123 subjective methods

Abstract

A digital headset system for use in audiometric testing. The headset system includes a stored calibration reference relating the exact frequency and volume response of each speaker to analog input signals. A microprocessor accesses the calibration reference to determine the required analog signal needed to produce the desired sound. An on-board digital to analog converter generates the required analog signal and transmits it to the speaker. The headset is used with software based audiometric test methods that allow the generation of an electronic user hearing profile. The user hearing profile may be used to re-program an audio emitting device to function in a customized manner. The user hearing profile may be overlaid on a partner hearing profile in order to emulate for the partner how sounds are perceived by the user. The test methods may be self-administered or administered by a healthcare professional.

Claims

1. A digital headset system for use in audiometric testing comprising:

a) at least one speaker;

b) a digital data interface for connection with a computer;

c) an electronic memory module for storing a unique calibration reference relating to the speaker;

d) a microprocessor for processing digital data corresponding to a desired sound output, the microprocessor able to electronically access the unique calibration reference to determine the required analog signal to be delivered to the speaker in order to emit the desired sound output; and

,

e) a digital to analog converter for delivering the required analog signal to the speaker.

2. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the at least one speaker comprises at least two speakers, one for each ear, located within a head-mountable housing.

3. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor receives digital data from the computer via the interface.

4. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is located within the computer.

5. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the unique calibration reference relates analog electrical input signals with frequency and volume characteristics of sound outputs from each speaker.

6. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the electronic memory module comprises an EEPROM or flash memory chip.

7. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor comprises or is interconnected with a digital signal processor (DSP).

8. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the headset system includes an ASIC that comprises one or more of the microprocessor, the digital to analog converter, a buffer, or a portion of the digital data interface.

9. The headset system of claim 1, wherein the headset system is reprogrammable using a previously determined user hearing profile to function in a customized manner.

10. The headset system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic recalibration means comprising a microphone for providing a sound output from the speaker to the computer for digital comparison with a pre-recorded baseline.

11. The headset system of claim 10, wherein a digital correction is determined by the computer based on the digital comparison and is applied by the computer to modify the digital data provided over the interface.

12. A method of audiometric testing using a calibrated digital headset system, the method comprising:

a) providing a calibrated digital headset system comprising;

i) at least one speaker;

ii) a digital data interface for connection with a computer;

iii) an electronic memory module for storing a unique calibration reference relating to the speaker;

iv) a microprocessor for processing digital data corresponding to a desired sound output, the microprocessor able to electronically access the unique calibration reference to determine the required analog signal to be delivered to the speaker in order to emit the desired sound output; and

,

v) a digital to analog converter for delivering the required analog signal to the speaker;

b) interconnecting the digital data interface with the computer;

c) administering one or more software generated audiometric tests using the headset, said one or more software generated audiometric tests comprising emitting a first set of sound outputs having pre-specified frequency selected from a first range of frequencies or volume characteristics or both;

d) receiving into the computer user feedback concerning the audibility of the first set of sound outputs; and

,

e) generating using the computer a user hearing profile based upon the results of said one or more software generated audiometric tests.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

f) administering one or more follow-up audiometric test using the headset system, the follow-up audiometric test comprising emitting a second set of sound outputs having frequency selected from a second range of frequencies or volume characteristics or both selected by the computer to further characterize a region of hearing loss within the user hearing profile;

g) receiving into the computer user feedback concerning the audibility of the second set of sound outputs; and

,

h) refining with the computer the user hearing profile based upon the results of said one or more follow-up audiometric tests.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second set of sound outputs comprises a plurality of discrete frequencies selected from the second frequency range, wherein the second range of frequencies is narrower than and confined within the first range of frequencies of the first set of sound outputs.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises re-programming the digital headset system using the user hearing profile to function as a customized headset by:

f) analyzing the user hearing profile with the computer to determine at least one region of hearing loss;

g) determining using the computer a required amplification of frequencies within the region of hearing loss;

h) uploading the required amplification to the headset using the digital data interface; and

,

i) electronically storing the required amplification on the digital headset in a data format accessible by the microprocessor.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises re-programming an audio emitting digital device using the user hearing profile to function as a customized audio emitting digital device by:

f) analyzing the user hearing profile with the computer to determine at least one region of hearing loss;

g) determining using the computer a required amplification of frequencies within the region of hearing loss;

h) uploading the required amplification to the audio emitting digital device; and

,

i) electronically storing the required amplification on the audio emitting digital device in a data format accessible by audio processing circuitry of the device.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

f) analyzing the user hearing profile with the computer to determine at least one region of hearing loss;

g) comparing the user hearing profile with a previously determined partner hearing profile using the computer;

h) for the partner hearing profile, determining using the computer a required amplification or deamplification of frequencies within the region of hearing loss in order to match the partner hearing profile with the user hearing profile; and

,

i) using the digital headset system, emitting a series of sounds modified by the required amplification or deamplification in order to audibly emulate for the partner how those sounds are perceived by the user.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

f) providing a microphone interconnected with an analog to digital converter for digitally delivering sound information to the computer;

g) digitally recording speaker outputs using the microphone; and

,

h) comparing the digitally recorded outputs with a baseline to determine a need for re-calibration of the headset system.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises obtaining a digital correction from the comparison conducted in step h) and applying the digital correction within the computer or the headset to counteract the need for headset system re-calibration.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises generating a visual representation of the user hearing profile.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises uploading the user hearing profile to a central server accessible to healthcare professionals.

22. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises uploading the user hearing profile to a central server accessible to a hearing aid manufacturer and electronically ordering a customized hearing aid device based upon the user hearing profile.

23. A method of modulating the audio output of an audio emitting device using a user hearing profile, the method comprising:

a) analyzing the user hearing profile with the computer to determine at least one region of hearing loss;

b) determining using the computer a required amplification of frequencies within the region of hearing loss; and

,

c) applying the required amplification to audio outputs of the audio emitting device.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

d) uploading the required amplification to the audio emitting digital device;

e) electronically storing the required amplification on the audio emitting digital device in a data format accessible by audio processing circuitry of the device; and

,

f) applying the required amplification to audio outputs of the audio emitting device using audio processing circuitry of the device.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

d) uploading the required amplification to a server on an audio transmission network;

e) relating the required amplification to a personal identifier that can be received by the server; and

,

f) applying the required amplification to signals transmitted over the network to a user providing the personal identifier.