# US 2004/0073136 A1 · System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests with ambient noise measurement

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- Number: US 2004/0073136 A1
- Document ID: US20040073136A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/438,752
- Filed: 2003-05-15
- Published: 2004-04-15
- Earliest claimed: 2002-05-23
- Assignees: Tympany, Inc.
- Inventors: Aaron Thornton; Jeff Harrison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040073136A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/12: Audiometering
- A61B 5/0051: {by applying vibrations}
- A61B 5/121: {evaluating hearing capacity}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- H04R 25/606: {acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window}
- H04R 25/70: {Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting}
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for conducting hearing tests with real-time ambient noise measurement are provided. More particularly, one or more microphones are provided to measure ambient noise in a test area during a time interval in which hearing test tones are provided to the patient. By measuring ambient noise during the actual presentation of the test tones, or at least near in time thereto, a much better indication of the reliability of the hearing test is provided. Methods of conducting a hearing test are also provided that comprise presenting a test tone to a patient and simultaneously measuring the ambient noise in the test area during at least a portion of the presentation of the test tone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for conducting a hearing test on a first ear of a patient in a test area, said system comprising:
an insert probe for engaging the first ear, said insert probe comprising an earphone selected from the group consisting of a supraaural earphone, a circumaural earphone, and an insert earphone;
a first transducer element for delivering a test sound to the first ear through said earphone; and
a second transducer element for measuring the ambient noise in the test area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first transducer element is a speaker.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said second transducer element is a microphone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer to couple said first transducer element and said second transducer element such that the ambient noise in the test area is measured while the test sound is delivered to the first ear.

### Claim 5

An apparatus for conducting a threshold hearing test on a first ear of a patient in a test area, said apparatus comprising:
a speaker for providing a test tone having a desired frequency and sound pressure level to said first ear; and
a microphone for measuring the ambient noise in the test area during at least a portion of said hearing test.

### Claim 6

A method for conducting a hearing test on a first ear of a patient in a test area comprising:
presenting a test tone having a desired frequency and sound pressure level to the first ear for a desired time interval; and
simultaneously measuring the ambient noise level in the test area during at least a portion of the desired time interval.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
comparing the measured ambient noise level to a maximum permissible ambient noise level; and
determining whether the measured ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of presenting the test tone having the desired frequency and sound pressure level to the first ear if the measured ambient noise level is greater than the maximum permissible ambient noise level.