Patent ID: 6109107
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of screening individuals for audio perception problems, the method comprising the steps of:a) selecting a target sound stimulus and a mask sound stimulus, the starting level of the target sound stimulus being sufficiently large relative to the starting level of the mask sound stimulus so that individuals with normal audio perception can detect the target sound stimulus in the presence of the mask sound stimulus when the target sound stimulus is separated from the mask sound stimulus by at least a prescribed interstimulus interval (ISI);b) changing the target sound stimulus level relative to the mask sound stimulus level by a prescribed amount;c) producing the target sound stimulus and the mask sound stimulus with the changed target sound stimulus level while maintaining the prescribed ISI;d) determining whether the individual can detect the target sound stimulus; ande) if the individual cannot detect the target sound stimulus signal then repeating the above steps until the individual can detect the target sound stimulus.