Hearing test system for non-expert user with built-in calibration and method

A hearing evaluation system comprising:

• an earpiece comprising a speaker configured to produce acoustic calibration stimuli;
• a portable test unit comprising:
• an acoustic calibration cavity comprising an opening along an exterior surface of the portable test unit, wherein the opening is configured to accommodate the earpiece at least partially within such that the speaker is acoustically coupled to the acoustic calibration cavity, and wherein the acoustic calibration cavity is shaped to provide a controlled acoustic transfer function for the earpiece;
• a microphone acoustically coupled to the acoustic calibration cavity, wherein the portable test unit is configured to produce a calibration signal and deliver the calibration signal to the earpiece for producing the acoustic calibration stimuli when the earpiece is placed at least partially within the acoustic calibration cavity;
• and
• a computing device configured to couple with the portable test unit, the computing device configured to perform a calibration measurement of the acoustic calibration stimuli when the earpiece is placed at least partially within the acoustic calibration cavity.

A portable test unit comprising:

• an acoustic calibration cavity comprising an opening along an exterior surface of the portable test unit, wherein the acoustic calibration cavity is configured to accommodate an earpiece at least partially within for acoustically coupling a speaker of the earpiece to the acoustic calibration cavity, and wherein the acoustic calibration cavity is shaped to provide a controlled acoustic transfer function for the earpiece;
• a microphone acoustically coupled to the acoustic calibration cavity, the microphone configured to receive an acoustic calibration stimuli from the earpiece when the earpiece is coupled thereto and produce a calibration signal input responsive to the acoustic calibration stimuli;
• and
• audio processing electronics which transmit an acoustic calibration signal to the earpiece when the earpiece is coupled thereto and receive the calibration signal input from the microphone.

A method of performing a calibration check of a personal hearing test system comprising:

• providing a portable test unit of the personal hearing test system, wherein the portable test unit comprises an acoustic calibration cavity having an opening along an exterior surface of the portable test unit and a microphone acoustically coupled to the acoustic calibration cavity, wherein the opening is configured to receive an earpiece for acoustically coupling a speaker of the earpiece to the acoustic calibration cavity, and wherein the acoustic calibration cavity is shaped to provide a controlled acoustic transfer function for the earpiece;
• providing an acoustic calibration stimuli to the acoustic calibration cavity by the earpiece when inserted, at least partially, into the opening;
• producing, using the microphone, a calibration signal input representative of acoustic pressure in the acoustic calibration cavity resulting from the acoustic calibration stimuli;
• transmitting the calibration signal input to an audio processing electronics of the portable test unit;
• determining a measured calibration level based on the calibration signal input;
• and
• indicating if the calibration level is within or outside a calibration range.