Multimedia feature for diagnostic instrumentation

Abstract

A system for automatedly administering an audiometric test includes an audiometer for performing the test by outputting test tones, and a processor programmed for monitoring responses to the test tones, detecting an error condition, automatically delivering audible corrective instructions to address the error condition detected, and automatically resuming outputting test tones after the audible corrective instructions have been delivered without intervention by a human test administrator.

1 . A multimedia audiometer comprising: 
 a basic audiometer comprising: 
 audio circuitry capable of generating audible test tones for delivery to earphones worn by a test subject according to logical testing procedures; and  
 microprocessor circuitry including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory;  
   a computer selectively operable to produce instructions represented by sound waves for delivery to the earphones, the computer being operatively coupled to the basic audiometer;    an interface operatively coupled to the computer and the basic audiometer for signaling whether the test subject perceives the audible test tones generated by the audio circuitry;    a switch having a first state in which audible test tones generated by the audio circuitry are provided to the earphones, and a second state in which the instructions represented by sound waves produced by the computer are provided to the earphones;    software stored in at least one of the computer and the memory of the microprocessor circuitry, the software operating the computer, the microprocessor circuitry, the audio circuitry and the interface to generate the audible test tones for delivery to the earphones, monitor responses by the test subject, detect errors in the test subject's responses, selectively produce the instructions for delivery to the earphones in response to the detected errors, and to control the switch to switch to the second state when errors are detected in the test subject's responses and to automatically switch back to the first state following delivery of the instructions to the earphones so that testing is resumed without human intervention;    a multimedia input interface communicatively connecting the computer and the basic audiometer; and    a communications interface communicatively connecting the computer and the basic audiometer;    wherein the computer and the basic audiometer communicate over the communications interface and the computer controls operation of the basic audiometer over the communications interface.    
   
   
       2 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 1 , wherein the computer includes a sound wave generator for converting digital information to analog signals representative of the digital information.  
   
   
       3 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is connected to deliver test tones from the basic audiometer to the earphones in the first state, and to deliver the instructions represented by sound waves produced by the computer via the multimedia input interface to the earphones in the second state.  
   
   
       4 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 1 , wherein the responses of the test subject are compiled and stored in at least one of the computer and the memory of the microprocessor circuitry.  
   
   
       5 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 4 , wherein the software operates the computer, the microprocessor circuitry, the audio circuitry and the interface according to a pre-programmed logical testing procedure.  
   
   
       6 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 5 , wherein the logical testing procedure is the Hughson-Westlake procedure.  
   
   
       7 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 1 , wherein the software is stored in the computer.  
   
   
       8 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 1 , wherein the software is stored in the memory of the microprocessor circuitry.  
   
   
       9 . A multimedia audiometer comprising: 
 a test signal generator for delivering a test tone to a test subject;    an input device for use by the test subject for signaling whether the test subject perceives the test tone delivered by the test signal generator;    a memory device that stores digital data representing a group of sound signals that provide different corrective instructions to the test subject to address different error situations created by the test subject; and    a processor communicatively connected to the memory device and the test signal generator to control the test signal generator to deliver test tones according to a logical testing procedure, monitor the status of the input device, detect whether an error has occurred in the input from the test subject, interrupt the delivery of test tones by the test signal generator when an error is detected, automatically locate and deliver a corrective instruction responsive to the error to the test subject from the group of sound signals, and automatically resume the delivery of test tones to the test subject without intervention by a human test administrator.    
   
   
       10 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 9 , wherein the logical testing procedure is the Hughson-Westlake procedure.  
   
   
       11 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to automatically determine a proper manner in which to resume the delivery of test tones to the test subject following delivery of the corrective instructions responsive to the error by the test subject, based on the detected error.  
   
   
       12 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 9 , wherein the test signal generator generates test tones according to a prescribed protocol.  
   
   
       13 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 12 , wherein the prescribed protocol comprises a test tone generated by the test signal generator followed by an input from the test subject that is positive, negative or null.  
   
   
       14 . The multimedia audiometer of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is associated with a computer.  
   
   
       15 . An audiometric test system comprising: 
 an audiometer for producing audible test tones in a headset worn by a test subject; and    a digital processor programmed for detecting errors in the test subject's responses to the audible test tones, automatically interrupting the production of audible test tones in the headset, automatically producing in the headset audible verbal corrective instructions related to the detected errors, and then automatically resuming production of the audible test tones in the headset after the audible verbal corrective instructions are complete. without intervention by a human test administrator.    
   
   
       16 . An audiometric test system comprising: 
 a headset to be worn by a test subject;    a tone generator for producing audible test tones in the headset;    an input device by which the subject provides a signal indicating that the subject has heard one of the test tones;    a memory for storing digital data representing audible verbal corrective instructions for each of a plurality of different error conditions; and    a digital processor programmed for detecting error conditions based upon signals received from the input device, automatically interrupting the production of audible test tones in the headset upon detection of an error condition, automatically selecting one of the audible verbal corrective instructions based upon the error condition detected and causing the selected audible verbal corrective instruction to be delivered to the test subject through the headset, and then automatically resuming the production of the audible test tones in a proper manner based upon the error condition detected and the audible verbal corrective instruction delivered to the subject through the headset without intervention by a human test administrator.    
   
   
       17 . A diagnostic system comprising: 
 a headset to be worn by a test subject;    a test signal generator that delivers test tones to the test subject;    an input device through which the test subject responds to the test tones; and    a processor for controlling the test signal generator to perform a pre-programmed test sequence with automatic error correction without intervention by a human test administrator, the processor detecting error conditions based on the subjects responses to the test tones, automatically interrupting the delivery of test tones to deliver audible verbal corrective instructions to the test subject through the headset based upon the error condition corrected, and automatically resuming the delivery of test tones after completion of the corrective instructions based on the error condition detected.    
   
   
       18 . A system for performing a diagnostic test protocol, comprising: 
 an audiometer for performing a test by outputting test tones to an earphone and monitoring a test subject's responses; and    a digital processor for detecting an error condition based on the responses, automatically delivering to the earphone audible corrective instructions based on the error condition detected, and automatically resuming the test by outputting test tones based upon the error condition detected.