Home hearing test system and method
First Claim
1. A home hearing test system for use with an audio system, the audio system including an audio player and a sound reproducer connected to the audio player, the home hearing test system comprising:
- an audio medium containing signals recorded thereon, the signals being playable by the audio player, the signals comprising at least one calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and one or more prerecorded sequences of tones, each sequence having tones at different decibel levels; and
a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system, the calibration device measuring sound output by the sound reproducer, the calibration device further comparing the measured sound to the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone.
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Abstract
A home hearing test for use with a conventional home audio system comprising an audio player and a set of headphones connected to the audio player. The home hearing test includes an audio medium such as a compact disc playable in the audio player and containing a calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and a number of prerecorded sequences of tones. Each sequence has tones recorded at different decibel levels and decreasing by a step value. In a first sequence for obtaining a rough estimation of hearing threshold level, the tones start at 70 dB HL and decrease by 10 dB steps to 0 dB HL. In secondary sequences, tones start and end with tones from the first sequence and decrease in 2 dB steps. The home hearing system includes a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system to the ears of a person wearing the headphones against the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone.
93 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A home hearing test system for use with an audio system, the audio system including an audio player and a sound reproducer connected to the audio player, the home hearing test system comprising:
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an audio medium containing signals recorded thereon, the signals being playable by the audio player, the signals comprising at least one calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and one or more prerecorded sequences of tones, each sequence having tones at different decibel levels; and a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system, the calibration device measuring sound output by the sound reproducer, the calibration device further comparing the measured sound to the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A home hearing test system for use with an audio system, the audio system including an audio player and a sound reproducer connected to the audio player, wherein the sound reproducer is a set of headphones, the home hearing test system comprising:
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an audio medium containing signals recorded thereon, the signals being playable by the audio player, the signals comprising at least one calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and one or more prerecorded sequences of tones, each sequence having tones at different decibel levels; a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system, the calibration device measuring sound output by the sound reproducer, the calibration device further comparing the measured sound to the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone; and means for providing a first level of contact pressure between the calibration device and at least one earpiece of the headphones which is substantially equal to a second level of contact pressure between the earpiece and an ear when the headphones are worn by a person. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A home hearing test system for use with an audio system, the audio system including an audio player and a sound reproducer connected to the audio player, wherein the sound reproducer is a set of headphones, the home hearing test system comprising:
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an audio medium containing signals recorded thereon, the signals being playable by the audio player, the signals comprising at least one calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and one or more prerecorded sequences of tones, each sequence having tones at different decibel levels; a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system, the calibration device measuring sound output by the sound reproducer, the calibration device further comparing the measured sound to the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone; and an earpiece adapter plate releasably connectable to an end of the calibration device and having a surface area substantially commensurate with a surface area of an earpiece of a conventional set of large headphones.
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21. A method for testing a person'"'"'s hearing at the person'"'"'s home using an audio player, a sound reproducer connected to the audio player, and an audio medium playable in the audio player, the method comprising:
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calibrating the output of the sound reproducer against a calibration tone of a predetermined decibel level prerecorded on the audio medium; listening through the sound reproducer to a first sequence of tones prerecorded on the audio medium, the first sequence comprising a plurality of tones recorded at decibel levels which decrease or increase; indicating which of the tones in the first sequence were heard and/or not heard. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification