Patent ID: 8457730
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A computer-controlled method of determining a hearing threshold of a test subject, the method comprising: storing a-priori information on a reference transient brain response to an acoustic stimulus, the a-priori information including a wave shape of a brainwave contained in the reference transient brain response to the acoustic stimulus; controlling an application of the acoustic stimulus to an ear of the test subject, wherein the acoustic stimulus contains a ramp section in which a parameter of the acoustic stimulus is varied according to a ramping function having a predetermined dependency on time such that the ramp section of the acoustic stimulus transgresses the hearing threshold to be determined; recording an actual transient brain response of the test subject within a predetermined time window in relation to the ramp section of the acoustic stimulus that transgresses the hearing threshold to be determined; determining a time interval between the acoustic stimulus and the actual transient brain response based on the actual transient brain response and the a-priori information that includes the wave shape of the brainwave contained in the reference transient brain response; and determining the hearing threshold of the test subject based on the predetermined dependency on time of the ramping function and based on the time interval determined based on the actual transient brain response and the a-priori information that includes the wave shape of the brainwave contained in the reference transient brain response, the determining of the hearing threshold being performed by a processor.