Mobile-Controlled Audiometric Testing With Noise and Calibration Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Audiometers are expensive, bulky, and difficult to transport, leading to inconvenient on-site testing and potential invalid results due to background noise, calibration issues, and user error, which can result in non-compliance with regulations.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a separate audiometer and mobile device that ensures valid audiometric testing by confirming background sound levels, validating calibration, and providing proper instructions before conducting the test, using a mobile device to control the audiometer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional audiometer is used, then the testing equipment is expensive and bulky, but it cannot be easily transported to on-site testing locations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidequipment size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate components: a portable mobile device that contains the control software and interface, and a separate audiometer that generates and outputs the audio tones. This segmentation allows the audiometer to be a simple, portable device while the mobile device handles the complex control and validation functions, solving the contradiction between portability and equipment complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and the audiometer. It provides the user interface, conducts validation checks, and controls the audiometer operations remotely. This intermediary approach allows the audiometer itself to be simple and portable while the mobile device handles the complexity of validation and control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If background noise is present in the testing environment, then the audiometric test can be conducted, but the results may become invalid due to interference with tone perception

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidtest validity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation checks before the actual audiometric testing begins. The mobile device validates the audiometer's calibration and checks background noise levels in advance, ensuring that the testing environment and equipment are ready for reliable results before the test starts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device continuously monitors background noise levels during the testing process and provides feedback to the user. If noise levels exceed acceptable thresholds, the system can alert the user or pause the test, ensuring that only valid results are recorded when environmental conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the audiometer is not properly calibrated, then the equipment can operate, but the test tones may diverge from standard frequencies and sound pressure levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidtone accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs calibration validation as a preliminary step before each testing session. The mobile device checks whether the audiometer has been properly calibrated recently and prevents testing from proceeding if calibration is insufficient, ensuring that tone accuracy is maintained while allowing operational continuity when calibration is up to date.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device automatically performs validation checks on the audiometer's calibration status without requiring manual intervention. The system self-verifies that the audiometer is producing accurate test tones within acceptable tolerances, maintaining measurement precision while simplifying the operational process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If subjects are not properly instructed on how to take the test, then the testing process can proceed, but user error may occur resulting in incorrect hearing threshold levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting speedVSAvoidhearing threshold accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device provides preliminary instructions and training to the subject before the actual testing begins. The system presents the subject with sample tones and explains the response procedure in advance, ensuring that the subject understands how to participate correctly before the formal testing starts, thereby reducing user error while maintaining testing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250254483A1Systems and methods for conducting and validating an audiometric test

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 EXAMINETICS

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for conducting an audiometric test using an audiometer includes confirming that a room in which the audiometric test is to be administered has a set of background sound pressure levels that conform to a predetermined standard; determining that the audiometer has been calibrated at least once on a day in which the audiometric test is to be administered; displaying instructions to a subject for taking the audiometric test; and conducting the audiometric test of the subject using a mobile device in electronic communication the audiometer, wherein the mobile device is separate from and controls the audiometer, and wherein conducting the audiometric test is blocked until the steps of confirming, determining, and displaying have been performed.