The present invention is in the field of hearing tests. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for determining the integrity of Auditory Nerve Fibers (ANFs) and/or afferent Auditory Nerve Synapses (ANSs) and/or inner-hair cells (IHC) in a subject.

Disclosure is a hearing threshold and/or hearing state detection system and method. The system comprises: an acquisition and transmission system configured to transmit stimulation signals and acquire an ear canal signal; and a hearing threshold analysis and prediction system including a hearing threshold detection module, a routine testing module and/or a hearing state screening module, wherein the hearing threshold detection module determines hearing thresholds at different stimulation frequencies through a pre-trained network model; the routine testing module adaptively selects a range of test intensities through the acquisition and transmission system, and predicts hearing thresholds related to different stimulation frequencies through a pre-trained network model; and the screening module is configured to perform hearing state screening through the acquisition and transmission system and a pre-trained network model. A detection result thereof is not only accurate, but also is applicable to various demand scenarios.

An instrument configured to test the middle-ear function of a test subject, such as in tympanometry and impedance audiometry is provided. The instrument comprises an ear probe for insertion in an ear of test subject, the ear probe comprises an acoustic output unit comprising a receiver, the acoustic output unit being configured to provide a stimulus into the ear of the test subject via said receiver, an acoustic input unit comprising a microphone, the acoustic input unit being configured to receive a reflected part of said stimulus via said microphone and provide an electrical input signal, an ear-probe body for accommodating said microphone and said receiver, and an ear-probe tip comprising a tip opening for outputting said stimulus and receiving said reflected part of the stimulus, wherein the ear-probe tip comprises a sound tube with a longitudinal axis (A), where said sound tube provides access between a receiver opening and a microphone opening, respectively, and said tip opening, which receiver opening and microphone opening are arranged at a distance (L) from said tip opening along said longitudinal axis (A), and wherein the instrument is configured to provide said stimulus comprising one or more frequencies above 226 Hz into the ear of the test subject via said receiver.

A hearing prosthesis system may include a cochlear implant coupled to an electrode array and configured to be implanted within a patient; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant which is configured to direct the cochlear implant to apply stimulation to a cochlea of the patient via the electrode array and to detect, via the electrode array, a neural response of the patient to hearing stimulation. The processing unit is further configured to generate a user interaction audio signal indicative of an interaction of the patient with the hearing prosthesis system and apply perceivable hearing stimulation to the patient according to the user interaction audio signal, and to record, via the electrode array and the cochlear implant, the neural response to said hearing stimulation according to the user interaction audio signal, thereby utilizing the user interaction audio signal as a test audio signal.

A method of manufacturing a lead. The method includes providing a supporting tube, and disposing a conductive strip on an outer surface of the supporting tube such that the conductive strip extends in an axial direction along a length of the supporting tube. The method also includes mounting a chip having a first conductive contact pad and a second conductive contact pad to the supporting tube such that the first conductive contact pad is in contact with the conductive strip. The method further includes fitting an electrode to the supporting tube such that the electrode is in contact with the second conductive contact pad, and coupling a conductor to each end of the supporting tube such that each conductor is in contact with the conductive strip. The method also includes covering at least one of the chip and the conductors with a sheath to provide the lead.

In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a speaker, a microphone, a memory, a digital signal processor (DSP), a driver, and a processor. The processor is configured to: obtain a first sound signal by combining a first signal, a second signal, and a first anti-phase signal; extract, from a second sound signal related to the first sound signal, a first DPOAE signal; obtain a third sound signal by combining a fourth signal, a fifth signal, and a second anti-phase signal; extract, from a fourth sound signal related to the third sound signal, a second DPOAE signal; obtain a user hearing profile based on the first and second DPOAE signals; and perform, based on the user hearing profile, at least one of a sound volume change and an equalization (EQ) change of a sound to be output.

Various embodiments are described herein to reduce sound sensitivities, improve state regulation, and/or reduce auditory processing and social engagement deficits in individuals with such deficiencies by recruiting the anti-masking functions of the middle ear muscles in order to optimize the transfer function of the middle ear for the processing of human speech. In certain embodiments, an individual may be subjected to a training protocol comprising one or more training sessions. During each training session, acoustic stimuli are provided to a subject for a period of time, with or without accompanying visual stimulation. A user response may be determined, for example, before beginning the protocol, during a session, after a session, and/or upon completion of the protocol. Such user response may be employed to adjust the acoustic stimulation, and the adjusted acoustic stimulation may be provided to the subject during a subsequent training session (or at a subsequent time within the same training session). The training protocol may end after a predetermined number of training sessions or upon achieving a desired user response. The training session may be characterized by a fixed protocol during which continuous stimulation is presented for a fixed period of time or by an interactive protocol during which the stimulation presentation is dependent on the reactions of the subject.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for automatic correction of real ear measurements (REMs). A sound signal is produced through a receiver of a hearing device, and a sound pressure signal is sensed using a microphone placed inside the ear canal. The sound pressure signal is transformed to obtain a frequency response signal, a local minimum of the frequency response signal is detected above a programmable frequency level, and a spectral flatness of the frequency response signal is calculated in a selected frequency band surrounding the local minimum. If the spectral flatness is greater than a selected threshold value, acoustic correction is applied to the frequency response in the selected frequency band using an estimated transfer function to obtain a corrected sound pressure frequency response. The corrected sound pressure frequency response is used to modify, or make a recommendation to modify, a physical or operational characteristic of the hearing device.

The head-position sway measuring device (D) includes a touch panel (1a) that gives the instruction to open or close eyes, an acceleration sensor (2a) that measures a displacement of a head position, and a sway recognition unit (1b) that recognizes a head-position sway value based on the displacement of the head position. The acceleration sensor (2a) measures a first measurement value, which is a measurement value obtained in the eye-open state, and then measures a second measurement value, which is a measurement value obtained in the eye-closed state. The sway recognition unit (1b) recognizes the head-position sway value based on the first measurement value and the second measurement value.

Presented herein are techniques that make use of objective measurements obtained in response to acoustic stimulation signals. More specifically, at least one measure of outer hair cell function and at least one measure of auditory nerve function are obtained from a tonotopic region of an inner ear of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. The at least one measure of auditory nerve function and the least one measure of outer hair cell function are then analyzed relative to one another.