Method and system for on-line hearing examination and correction

• US 6,322,521 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ototronix, LLC
• Original Assignee: Audix Technology Company Limited (Audix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hou, Zezhang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wingood, Pamela
• Application Number:
  US09/541,366
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/552, 600/559, 381/1-433
• US Class Current: 600/559
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Improved approaches to assist those having hearing loss are disclosed. One approach pertains to providing on-line hearing loss testing. The on-line hearing loss testing can be self-performed without any specialized equipment. Another approach pertains to on-line sound customization. The sound customization can simulate hearing compensation on-line. As an example, the hearing compensation can be used to simulate hearing aid processing. Still another approach pertains to a recommendation and/or referral procedure.

Claims

1. A method for determining an amount of hearing loss for a participating subject, said method comprising the acts of:

(a) performing a first on-line hearing loss test for a reference subject to produce reference parameters;

(b) performing a second on-line hearing loss test for the participating subject to produce participant parameters; and

(c) determining relative hearing loss for the participating subject based on the participant parameters and the reference parameters.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) providing a hearing loss report to the participating subject in accordance with the relative hearing loss.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said performing (a) and (b) of the first and second on-line hearing loss tests are performed on a local machine.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the local machine is a computing device.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the local machine is a personal computer.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining (c) of the relative hearing loss is performed at a web server, and wherein the local machine communicates with web server over a data network.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the data network is the Internet.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said performing (a) and (b) of the first and second on-line hearing loss tests are performed on a local machine but controlled by the web server.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) informing the participating subject that they suffer from a hearing impairment based on the relative hearing loss.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) recommending on-line that the participating subject obtain a hearing assistance device when the relative hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) simulating enhanced hearing of the hearing assistance device to the participating subject.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said simulating (e) is on-line simulating.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) presenting a list of available hearing aid types to the participating subject when the relative hearing loss indicates a significant hearing impairment.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) simulating a selected one of the available hearing aid types to the participating subject.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said simulating (e) is on-line simulating.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said simulating (e) allows the participating subject to adjust parameters associated with the selected one of the available hearing aid types.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) simulating hearing impairment of the participating subject to another subject in accordance with the relative hearing loss of the participating subject.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said simulating (d) is on-line simulating.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) simulating enhanced hearing to the participating subject, the enhanced hearing compensating for the relative hearing loss of the participating subject.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said simulating (d) is on-line simulating.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) computerized simulating of a plurality of hearing assistance devices which enhance hearing to the participating subject by compensating for the relative hearing loss of the participating subject.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) ranking the hearing assistance devices examined during said computerized simulating (d).

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) comparing the relative hearing loss with an impairment threshold; and

(e) referring on-line the participating subject to a hearing aid product or service provider when said comparing (d) indicates that the relative hearing loss exceeds the impairment threshold.

25. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) comparing the relative hearing loss with an impairment threshold; and

(e) recommending a hearing aid product or service provider when said comparing (d) indicates that the relative hearing loss exceeds the impairment threshold.

26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(d) comparing the relative hearing loss with an impairment threshold; and

(e) on-line simulating enhanced hearing of a hearing assistance device to the participating subject when said comparing (d) indicates that the relative hearing loss exceeds the impairment threshold.

27. An on-line method for providing hearing aid processing, said on-line method comprising the acts of:

performing an on-line diagnosis of a user'"'"'s hearing loss;

determining hearing aid parameters based on the on-line diagnosis;

modifying an electronic sound source based on the hearing aid parameters to produce a modified electronic sound source; and

playing the modified electronic sound source for the user.

28. An on-line method as recited in claim 27, wherein the electronic sound source is provided at a web server, and

wherein said performing of the on-line diagnosis uses at least a local computer at the user'"'"'s location.

29. An on-line method as recited in claim 28, wherein said performing of the on-line diagnosis includes at least transmitting predetermined sound signal to the user'"'"'s computer over a data network.

30. An on-line method as recited in claim 27, wherein said playing comprises:

transmitting the modified electronic sound source to a local computer at the user'"'"'s location over a data network; and

playing the modified electronic sound source at the local machine.

31. An on-line method for providing hearing aid processing, said on-line method comprising the acts of:

receiving hearing loss data on-line for a user;

determining hearing aid parameters based on the hearing loss data;

modifying an electronic sound source based on the hearing aid parameters to produce a modified electronic sound source; and

playing the modified electronic sound source for the user.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

allowing on-line adjustment to the hearing aid parameters by the user.

33. An on-line method as recited in claim 31, wherein said playing comprises:

transmitting the modified electronic sound source to a local computer at the user'"'"'s location over a data network; and

playing the modified electronic sound source at the local machine.

34. A method for referring a hearing impaired listener to a hearing product or service specialist, said method comprising the acts of:

receiving hearing loss data on-line for a hearing impaired user;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of hearing product or service providers;

directing the hearing impaired listener to the selected one of the hearing product or service providers; and

forwarding the hearing loss data for the hearing impaired listener to the selected one of the hearing product or service providers over a data network.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

scheduling an appointment on-line with the selected one of the hearing product or service providers for the hearing impaired listener.

36. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

simulating enhanced hearing for the hearing impaired listener, the enhanced hearing compensates for the determined hearing loss of the hearing impaired listener.

37. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said receiving of the hearing loss data comprises:

determining hearing loss of the hearing impaired listener on-line, the hearing loss being represented in the hearing loss data.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

scheduling an appointment on-line with the selected one of the hearing product or service providers for the hearing impaired listener.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

simulating enhanced hearing for the hearing impaired listener, the enhanced hearing compensates for the determined hearing loss of the hearing impaired listener.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

purchasing a hearing aid product on-line based on the hearing loss data.

41. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said method further comprises the act of:

purchasing a hearing aid product on-line based on the hearing loss data.

42. An on-line method for providing impaired hearing simulation, said on-line method comprising the acts of:

receiving hearing loss data on-line for a first user, the first user being hearing impaired;

modifying an electronic sound source based on the hearing less data to produce an impaired electronic sound source; and

playing the impaired electronic sound source for a second user, the second user being substantially non-hearing impaired.

43. A computer readable medium including computer program code for determining an amount of hearing loss for a participating subject, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for performing a first on-line hearing loss test for a reference subject to produce reference parameters;

computer program code for performing a second on-line hearing loss test for the participating subject to produce participant parameters; and

computer program code for determining relative hearing loss for the participating subject based on the participant parameters and the reference parameters.

44. A computer readable medium including computer program code for providing on-line hearing aid processing, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for accessing an on-line diagnosis of a user'"'"'s hearing loss;

computer program code for determining hearing aid parameters based on the on-line diagnosis;

computer program code for modifying an electronic sound source based on the hearing aid parameters to produce a modified electronic sound source; and

computer program code for transmitting the modified electronic sound source for the user.

45. A computer readable medium including computer program code for referring a hearing impaired listener to a hearing product or service specialist, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining hearing loss of the hearing impaired listener on-line, the hearing loss being represented in hearing loss data;

computer program code for receiving a selection of one of a plurality of hearing product or service providers;

computer program code for directing the hearing impaired listener the selected one of the hearing product or service providers; and

computer program code for forwarding the hearing loss data for the hearing impaired listener to the selected one of the hearing product or service providers over a data network.