Virtual electroacoustic audiometry for unaided simulated aided, and aided hearing evaluation
US5923764A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R29/001
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hearing evaluation and hearing aid fitting system provides a fully immersive three-dimensional acoustic environment to evaluate unaided, simulated aided, and aided hearing function of an individual. Digital filtering of signal sources representing speech and other sound stimuli according to selected models and signal processing parameters, such as audio sources, spatializing coordinates, acoustic boundaries, hearing aid simulations, and individualized transfer functions synthesizes a simulated acoustic condition for presentation to an individual for objective and subjective hearing evaluation. An intra-canal prosthesis incorporating a microphone probe is positioned in the ear canal to measure in-the-ear-canal responses at a common reference point near the tympanum during unaided, simulated aided, and aided hearing evaluation to provide measurements that directly correlate across all phases of hearing assessment during hearing aid fitting. A virtual electroacoustic audiometer computes hearing aid prescription based on unaided evaluation results and various reference measurements including in-the-ear canal responses to acoustic stimuli. The system synthesizes signals reflecting the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.