Adaptive integrated, and interactive education and communication system for people with hearing loss and hearing healthcare providers and related methods

Abstract

A system, device, and wireless computer technology-implemented method for providing hearing healthcare education and communication for a patient, his/her communication partner, and a hearing care provider. The system provides the patient at least one educational and experiential module and a method for assessing the patient's comprehension of the module's lessons. The system further provides the patient with a method to select personal hearing aid and communication goals; a method to evaluate his/her progress on achieving each personal goal; and a method to report his/her hearing experiences. The system further provides a method to compare data reported by the patient to personalized thresholds. When one or more of the patient's reports do not meet the thresholds, the system sends automated alerts to the hearing care provider to encourage prompt remedial action and sends automated reminders to the patient to improve the patient's ability to achieve his/her personal goals.

1 .- 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A system for providing adaptive, integrated, and interactive hearing healthcare education and communication, comprising:
 at least one storage device storing data and instructions;   at least one computer processor configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via a hearing healthcare provider computing device, initial patient data, the initial patient data including one or more values identifying a patient and a hearing aid used by the patient; 
 receiving, via the hearing healthcare provider computing device, individualized healthcare rules, the individualized healthcare rules being defined for the patient; 
 receiving, via the hearing healthcare provider computing device, threshold values for each of the individualized healthcare rules; 
 storing, in the at least one storage device, the initial patient data, the individualized healthcare rules, and the threshold values for each of the individualized healthcare rules; and 
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, one or more alerts related to a patient achievement value for at least one of the individualized healthcare rules, 
 wherein the one or more alerts comprise a comparison of the patient achievement value and a threshold value for at least one of the individualized healthcare rules, and 
 wherein the individualized healthcare rules include one or more of patient system usage rules, patient education rules, and patient hearing aid experience rules. 
   
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the patient system usage rules comprise minimum threshold values related to at least one of a use of the system by the patient and a use of at least one specific feature of the system by the patient. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the patient system usage rules comprise minimum threshold values related to at least one of a frequency with which one or more features of the system are used by the patient, and a frequency with which specific features of the system that are used by the patient. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a report related to the patient system usage rules including at least one of a number of times that one or more features of the system are used by the patient, and a number of specific features of the system that are used by the patient.   
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 81 ,
 wherein the patient education rules comprise threshold values related to a minimum number of videos viewed within a prescribed time period, and a minimum number of correct responses to video review questions, or a minimum percentage of correct responses to video review questions.   
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a report related to the patient education rules including at least one of a minimum number of videos viewed within a prescribed time period, a minimum number of correct responses to video review questions, or a minimum percentage of correct responses to video review questions.   
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 81  wherein the patient hearing aid experience rules comprise threshold values related to a use of the hearing aid, the threshold values including at least one of a use of the hearing aid reflecting an amount of time the patient wears the hearing aid, a hearing aid comfort threshold value reflecting a perceived comfort level of the hearing aid worn by the patient, and a hearing aid sound quality threshold value reflecting a perceived sound quality level of the hearing aid worn by the patient. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a report related to the patient hearing aid experience rules including at least one of a use of the hearing aid reflecting an amount of time the patient wears the hearing aid, a hearing aid comfort threshold value reflecting a perceived comfort level of the hearing aid worn by the patient, and a hearing aid sound quality threshold value reflecting a perceived sound quality level of the hearing aid worn by the patient.   
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 81 ,
 wherein the patient hearing aid experience rules comprise threshold values related to include at least one of a minimum overall satisfaction rating, a minimum sound quality rating, and a minimum comfort level, and   wherein each of the minimum overall satisfaction rating, the minimum sound quality rating, and the minimum comfort level is on a defined measurement scale.   
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a report related to the patient hearing aid experience rules including at least one of a minimum overall satisfaction rating, a minimum sound quality rating, and a minimum comfort level.   
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one storage device is further configured to store a list of patients currently enrolled in the system and at least one report that includes data related to system usage and survey responses from a subset of the patients currently enrolled in the system. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, via the hearing healthcare provider computing device, one or more provider reports including provider usage data.   
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a request to modify system content, the modifying including at least one of adding, deleting, or changing the system content related to the patient.   
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 providing, to the hearing healthcare provider computing device, one or more alerts that notify a hearing healthcare provider that the patient has one or more problems with a hearing aid.   
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to execute the instructions and to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the hearing healthcare provider computing device, a request to schedule at least one of a telephone call, an office appointment, and a video conference with the patient; and   transmitting the request to schedule the at least one of the telephone call, the office appointment, and the video conference to the patient.