Patent ID: 7242778

Claim:
In a hearing instrument including a plurality of transducers, a self-diagnostics system, comprising: a detection circuitry operable to monitor the functional status of at least one transducer by measuring an energy level output of the transducer and comparing the energy level output to a pre-determined threshold level; the detection circuitry being further operable to generate an error message output if the measured energy level output of the transducer falls below the pre-determined threshold level; and a memory device coupled to the detection circuitry and operable to store the error message output generated by the detection circuitry; wherein the detection circuitry is further operable to generate a test tone that is directed into the ear canal of a hearing instrument user by a hearing instrument loudspeaker, the detection circuitry generating the test tone if the measured energy level output of the transducer falls below the pre-determined level; and the detection circuitry being further operable to monitor an inner microphone to detect the test tone.