Systems and methods for determining a score for spatial localization hearing

A method for performing an audiometric evaluation of a patient by determining a score representative of a spatial auditory localization of the patient, the method comprising:

• providing a visual output device configured to be worn at a level of the patient's head such that a movement of the patient's head in a direction of movement causes a simultaneous and proportional movement of the visual output device in the direction of movement, the visual output device comprising a display unit configured to display a virtual environment in a direction of an eye of the patient,
• providing a sound output device configured to broadcast an output audio signal at a level of an ear of the patient,
• providing a movement detection device configured to detect a movement of all or part of a body of the patient and to generate a measurement representative of a predetermined movement of the patient,
• providing a processor coupled to the visual output device, to the sound output device and to the movement detection device,
• obtaining, by the processor, a virtual auditory space associated with the virtual environment, from a model representative of an acoustic behavior of a physical auditory space of the real world or of an artificial world, so that the virtual auditory space reproduces, in the virtual environment via virtual sound sources, the acoustic behavior of the physical auditory space of the real world or of an artificial world, wherein the reproduced acoustic behavior is not based on a recording of a real sound source in a real environment,
• inserting and arranging, in the virtual auditory space, by the processor, a plurality of virtual positions of the virtual sound sources, around a virtual position of observation of the virtual environment by the patient,
• controlling, by the processor, the sound output device to broadcast the output audio signal so that, to the patient, the output audio signal seems to come from at least one of the plurality of virtual positions of the virtual sound sources,
• detecting, by the processor, a first movement of the patient, in response to the broadcasting of the output audio signal,
• obtaining, periodically, from the movement detection device, by the processor, a measurement, in response to the detection of the first movement of the patient or induced by the patient and until detection of a second predetermined movement of the patient or induced by the patient,
• calculating at least a first spatial auditory localization score (Sk1) representative of an accuracy of localization of the virtual sound source, wherein the first spatial auditory localization score (Sk1) comprises a measure of difference between a perceived location and an actual location of the virtual sound source,
• calculating at least a second spatial auditory localization score (Sk2) representative of an efficiency of decision-making during localizations, wherein the second spatial auditory localization score (Sk2):
• a) is representative of a quality of an exploration strategy implemented by the patient to locate the virtual sound source, and
• b) includes a combination of:
• (i) a temporal parameter representing a response time of the patient's decision, and
• (ii) a spatial parameter (X3) representing an angular movement of the patient's body in at least one of azimuthal or elevation planes during search for the virtual sound source,
• wherein the spatial parameter (X3) is calculated by the processor from the measurement of body movement detected by the movement detection device, and
• inputting, by the processor, the second spatial auditory localization score (Sk2) of the patient into a biomathematical model that describes the second spatial auditory localization score (Sk2) as a mathematical function of auditory localization ability class to determine the auditory localization ability class to which the patient belongs.

A system for determining a score representative of a spatial auditory localization of a patient, the system comprising:

• a visual output device configured to be worn at a level of the patient's head such that a movement of the patient's head in a direction of movement causes a simultaneous and proportional movement of the visual output device in the direction of movement, the visual output device comprising a display unit configured to display a virtual environment in a direction of an eye of the patient,
• a sound output device configured to broadcast an output audio signal at a level of an ear of the patient,
• a movement detection device configured to detect a movement of all or part of a body of the patient and to generate a measurement representative of the movement of the patient,
• a processor coupled to the visual output device, to the sound output device and to the movement detection device, the processor being configured to:
• obtain a virtual auditory space associated with the virtual environment, from a model representative of an acoustic behavior of a physical auditory space of the real world or of an artificial world, the virtual auditory space being configured to reproduce, in the virtual environment via virtual sound sources, the acoustic behavior of the physical auditory space of the real world or of the artificial world, wherein the reproduced acoustic behavior is not based on a recording of a real sound source in a real environment,
• insert and arrange, in the virtual auditory space, a plurality of virtual positions of the virtual sound sources, around a virtual position of observation of the virtual environment by the patient,
• control the sound output device to broadcast the output audio signal so that, to the patient, the output audio signal seems to come from at least one of the plurality of virtual positions of the virtual sound sources,
• detect a first movement of the patient or induced by the patient, in response to the broadcasting of the output audio signal,
• obtain, periodically, from the movement detection device, a measurement, in response to the detection of the first movement of the patient or induced by the patient and until detection of a second predetermined movement of the patient or induced by the patient, and
• calculate a spatial auditory localization score of the patient, at least from the virtual auditory space and the measurement, wherein the spatial auditory localization score is representative of an efficiency of a decision-making in localization, wherein the efficiency:
• a) is distinct form an accuracy of localization,
• b) characterizes a quality of an exploration strategy implemented by the patient to locate the virtual sound source, and
• c) includes a combination of:
• (i) a temporal component representing a response time of the patient's decision, and
• (ii) a spatial component representing a calculated parameter (X3) that determines angular movement of the patient's body at least one of azimuthal or elevation planes during search for the virtual sound source, wherein the parameter (X3) is calculated by the processor from the measurement of body movement detected by the movement detection device.