Method and apparatus for tinnitus evaluation
Inventors
Henry, James A. • Silaski, Grayson • Gray, David • Porsov, Edward V. • Owens, Kimberly
Assignees
Oregon Health and Science University • US Department of Veterans Affairs
Publication Number
US-8870786-B2
Publication Date
2014-10-28
Expiration Date
2027-07-17
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Abstract
Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for evaluating tinnitus are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a tinnitus evaluation system may include a tinnitus evaluation module configured to perform one or more tinnitus evaluation tests. A tinnitus evaluation test may comprise generating a first single-frequency sound based at least in part on a sound of a patient's tinnitus, and generating a narrow-band sound centered at the frequency of the first single-frequency sound. Tests include a hearing threshold test, a loudness match test, a pitch match test, a bandwidth match test, a minimum masking level test, and a residual inhibition test.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for evaluating tinnitus. It includes a tinnitus evaluation system comprising a tinnitus evaluation module configured to perform one or more tinnitus evaluation tests. These tests involve generating a first single-frequency sound based at least in part on the sound of a patient's tinnitus and generating a narrow-band sound centered at the frequency of the first single-frequency sound. Testing protocols include hearing threshold tests, loudness match tests, pitch match tests, bandwidth match tests, minimum masking level tests, and residual inhibition tests.
The problem addressed is the lack of standardized test protocols for clinical assessment of tinnitus. Current tests such as pitch and loudness matching or masking levels are varied and do not provide consistent repeatable measurements. This variability makes it difficult to reliably compare tinnitus severity across patients or to evaluate treatment efficacy. The invention aims to provide accurate, reliable, and rapid measurement of tinnitus manifestations through standardized automated testing protocols.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains multiple independent claims outlining an apparatus, a system, an article of manufacture, and a method for evaluating tinnitus, with inventive features centered on controlled sound generation and patient response measurement.
Sound generation based on tinnitus pitch
Generation of single-frequency sounds based at least in part on the pitch of a patient's tinnitus, and generation of narrow-band sounds centered at the frequency of the single-frequency sound.
User prompt for similarity indication
Display of prompts requesting an indication of which sound—the single-frequency sound or the narrow-band sound—is more similar to the patient's tinnitus sound.
System combining computing apparatus with tinnitus evaluation module
Coupling a computing apparatus configured to cause tinnitus evaluation module to perform sound generation and present prompts, allowing performance of various tinnitus evaluation tests such as hearing threshold, loudness match, pitch match, bandwidth match, minimum masking level, and residual inhibition tests.
Programming instructions for tinnitus evaluation
Non-transitory storage medium containing instructions to program a computing apparatus to cause a tinnitus evaluation module to generate the specified sounds and prompts for patient response in tinnitus evaluation.
Method for tinnitus evaluation involving sound generation and patient prompt
A method comprising generating a first single-frequency sound, a narrow-band sound centered at that frequency, and displaying prompts requesting indications of similarity to the patient's tinnitus, optionally including wide-band sounds and additional tests like minimum audibility, loudness similarity, masking, and residual inhibition assessment.
The independent claims cover the invention of a tinnitus evaluation apparatus, system, method, and programming to generate targeted sounds based on patient's tinnitus pitch and to obtain patient responses through prompts, enabling standardized, comprehensive tinnitus testing.
Stated Advantages
Provides a standardized, accurate, reliable, and rapid method for measuring tinnitus in a repeatable manner.
Facilitates consistent tinnitus assessment across different patients and clinicians, overcoming issues with non-standardized protocols.
Enables automated testing potentially requiring less clinician input during tests, improving efficiency.
Documented Applications
Clinical assessment and quantification of a patient's tinnitus characteristics such as spectral location and loudness.
Monitoring changes in a patient's tinnitus to evaluate treatment efficacy.
Use in clinical settings by patients and clinicians for tinnitus evaluation through tests including hearing threshold, loudness match, pitch match, bandwidth match, minimum masking level, and residual inhibition tests.
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