Patent ID: 7780609

Claim:
A method of detecting a change in hearing of a user, comprising: a. providing an electronic sound generating device for providing a content audio signal, wherein said electronic sound generating device includes a hearing test audio signal, wherein said hearing test audio signal includes sounds at a plurality of volumes, including sound having a volume below a threshold of hearing of the user and sound having a volume above a threshold of hearing of the user, wherein volume of none of said sounds is measured, and wherein said electronic sound generating device is capable of reproducing said hearing test audio signal with sounds having same unmeasured volume at a subsequent time; b. using said electronic sound generating device to produce said hearing test audio signal at a first time; c. determining a first measure of threshold of hearing at said first time based on whether the user heard or did not hear sounds at each volume of said plurality of volumes that were produced by said sound generating device at said first time; d. using said electronic sound generating device to produce said hearing test audio signal at a second time and determining a second measure of threshold of hearing at said second time based on whether the user heard or did not hear sounds at each volume of said plurality of volumes that were produced by said sound generating device at said second time; e. comparing said first measure of threshold of hearing at said first time with said second measure of threshold of hearing at said second time; and f. determining that a change in threshold of hearing occurred if said second measure of threshold of hearing differs from said first measure of threshold of hearing.