Systems, methods and products for diagnostic hearing assessments distributed via the use of a computer network

A method of controlling a hearing test, the method comprising the steps of:

• serving web pages from a web server on-board a hearing test device to a web client which indicate a status of the hearing test, wherein the hearing test device is a portable device with an audiometer;
• receiving requests from the web client which provide directions to the audiometer for generating outputs for performing the hearing test;
• and
• interactively controlling operation of the hearing test device based on the parameters of the received request from the web client so as to provide control of the hearing test.

A method of controlling a diagnostic hearing test using the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:

• hosting a socket connection at a web server to a web client which indicates a status of the diagnostic hearing test for the transfer of data associated with a portable diagnostic hearing test device, the portable test device being a discrete device that connects to a local computer to access the Internet, the portable hearing test device having an on-board function generator and attenuator;
• establishing test parameters generated by the diagnostic hearing test device over the hosted socket connection;
• controlling operation of the diagnostic hearing test device over the hosted socket connection based on specified parameters input by a clinician at the web client over the hosted socket connection so as to provide control of the diagnostic hearing test;
• receiving results associated with the diagnostic hearing test at the web client over the hosted connection;
• and
• wherein the steps of establishing, controlling and receiving are carried out so as to in sufficient number and variation of frequency and sound level intensity to provide enough information to the web client to allow a diagnostic hearing evaluation to be performed by a clinician according to predetermined standards.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test, and wherein the communications interface connects the test device to a computer network to allow an interactive testing protocol with a clinician using the remote device to control the audiometer from a remote location.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test,
• wherein the output device comprises a transducer for transmitting the sound stimuli to the patient, wherein the device further comprises an audio analyzer for allowing the remote device to evaluate ambient noise at a patient site during a patient test.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test, wherein the communications interface comprises an on-board web browser in the portable housing.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test,
• wherein the communications interface engages a web browser in a local computer.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test;
• and
• a biotelemetry measurement system for evaluating otoacoustic emissions and/or middle ear pressure and compliance characteristics in communication with the processor and the communications interface in the housing, wherein the test device is configured to allow a remote clinician to evaluate otoacoustic emissions and/or middle ear pressure and compliance characteristics and allow the remote device to control the biotelemetry measurement system.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input switch in communication with the processor;
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device;
• an audio analyzer in communication with the processor in the portable housing;
• and
• a microphone in or on the housing in communication with the audio analyzer, wherein at least one of the portable device or remote device is configured to monitor local sound levels using the audio analyzer.

A diagnostic test system, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• a patient response mechanism in the portable housing for allowing a patient to signal responses to sound stimuli;
• an audiometer circuit in the portable housing;
• a processor in the portable housing in communications with the audiometer circuit;
• an acoustic transducer in communication with the audiometer circuit for transmitting to a test participant sound stimuli;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and configured to couple the audiometer circuit to a remote controlling or monitoring device to allow a clinician at the remote controlling or monitoring device to select sound stimuli transmitted to the patient during a hearing test and evaluate patient responses to the transmitted sound stimuli during the hearing test.

A diagnostic test system, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• a patient response mechanism in the portable housing for allowing a patient to signal responses to sound stimuli;
• an audiometer circuit in the portable housing;
• a processor in the portable housing in communications with the audiometer circuit;
• an acoustic transducer in communication with the audiometer circuit for transmitting to a test participant sound stimuli;
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and configured to couple the audiometer circuit to a remote controlling or monitoring device to allow the remote controlling or monitoring device to select sound stimuli transmitted to the patient during a hearing test and evaluate patient responses to the transmitted sound stimuli during the hearing test;
• and
• an audio analyzer for detecting local sound conditions, the audio analyzer comprising a microphone held by the portable housing and being in communication with the processor and communications interface to provide information regarding local sound conditions to the remote device.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test,
• wherein the frequency accuracy for each test signal tone is presented to the patient such that the signal is within about 1% of an indicated tone frequency.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test,
• wherein the test device is configured to generate frequency tones, narrow band noise, broadband noise, recorded noise and speech, as well as live speech.

A diagnostic test device, comprising:

• a portable housing;
• an audiometer in the housing that generates electrical signals representing sound stimuli;
• an output device in communication with the audiometer that transmits the sound stimuli to a patient;
• a processor in the housing in communication with the audiometer;
• a patient response input device in communication with the processor;
• and
• a communications interface in the portable housing in communication with the processor and audiometer configured to allow control of the audiometer from a remote device to select test frequencies and sound levels transmitted to a patient during a hearing test in response to the patient's responses to selected test frequencies, wherein the communications interface is in communication with the patient response input device and transmits the patient responses to the remote device during the hearing test,
• wherein harmonic distortion of tone frequencies meet ANSI standards.

A method of providing diagnostic hearing evaluations using the internet, comprising:

• lending a hearing test device having an on-board audiometer to a hearing test patient;
• connecting the hearing test device at a local patient site to a remote test administration site using a computer network;
• and
• administering a hearing evaluation test to the patient using the computer network, whereby the clinician at the remote test administration site controls hearing assessment signals generated by the hearing test device at the local patient site and monitors the patient's responses to the hearing assessment signals in substantially real time.