Patent ID: 8254586
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: A61F,H04R

Abstract:
1. A method for assessing an acoustical performance of an in-ear device using an apparatus having a sound measurement device connected thereto, the in-ear device having a passageway extending therethrough for receiving an acoustic damper therein, the acoustic damper having a predetermined acoustic attenuation thereof, the passageway being in fluid communication with an ear canal of an ear when the in-ear device is inserted therein, the sound measurement device being removably engageable into the passageway, said method comprising: (a) submitting a user wearing the in-ear device with the passageway thereof being occluded to a gradually increasing or decreasing a volume of a sound level of a predetermined frequency range to determine a first sound level threshold value at which the user starts or stops hearing the sound; (b) submitting a user wearing the in-ear device with the acoustic damper inserted in the passageway thereof to a gradually increasing or decreasing a volume of a sound level of a predetermined frequency range to determine a second sound level threshold value at which the user starts or stops hearing the sound; (c) calculating the predetermined damper acoustic attenuation from a difference between said first and second sound level threshold values; and (d) calculating an acoustical performance of the in-ear device with the acoustical damper inserted in the passageway thereof from a measured blocked acoustic attenuation obtained with the passageway being occluded using a sound measurement device selectively engaged therein and the predetermined damper acoustic attenuation.