TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to a device for detection of hearing loss. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device for early detection of hearing loss in infants using virtual reality technology. The present invention also relates to a method of early detection of hearing loss in infants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[003] Hearing loss is a serious problem, it often remains undiscovered until after the person has become impaired. Approximately 1 of every 1,000 children is born deaf. Many more are born with less severe degrees of hearing impairment, while others develop hearing impairment during childhood. Reduced hearing acuity during infancy and early childhood interferes with the development of speech and verbal language skills. Although less well documented, significantly reduced auditory input also adversely affects the developing auditory nervous system and can have harmful effects on social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development, as well as on a person's vocational and economic potential.
[004] Moreover, delayed identification and management of severe to profound hearing impairment may impede the child's ability to adapt to life in a hearing world or in the deaf community. The most important period for language and speech development is generally regarded as the first 3 years of life and, although there are several methods of identifying hearing impairment during the first year. Lesser degrees of hearing loss may go undetected even longer. The result is that for many hearing-impaired infants and young children, much of the crucial period for language and speech learning is lost.
[005] Devices and techniques do exist for coping with hearing impairment, such as medical-grade hearing aids, various sound amplification systems, high definition voice services and voice recognition applications. These may provide some level of help after hearing loss has been diagnosed, but there are currently no existing methods for unobtrusive early detection and prevention of gradual hearing loss. At present, most people must rely on an annual or semi-annual audiometry test, typically performed in a medical setting, for early
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detection of hearing impairment. Such tests can be relatively inconvenient and expensive and may not be performed in a timely manner. Also, there is general agreement that hearing impairment should be recognized as early in life as possible, so that the remediation process can take full advantage of the plasticity of the developing sensory systems and so that the child can enjoy normal social development.
[006] Therefore, there existunmet needs for an improved device for the early identification of hearing impairment in infants and young children which is affordable, highly interactive and gives instant results.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[007] Some of the objects of the present invention, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.
[008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for early detection of hearing loss.
[009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for early detection of hearing loss particularly in infants.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for detection of hearing loss in infants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention generally relates to a device for detection of hearing loss. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device for early detection of hearing loss in infants using virtual reality technology. The present invention also relates to a method of early detection of hearing loss in infants.
[0012] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a device for detection of hearing loss, the device comprising of:
a head-mounted virtual reality headset integrated with headphones for 3D audio that provides virtual reality display;
a phone slot for smartphone with a mobile application preinstalled; and
head motion tracking sensors to capture the rotation of head.
[0013] In another aspect, the head-mounted virtual reality headset of the device of the present invention comprises a stereoscopic head-mounted display of providing separate images for each eye.
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[0014] In another aspect, the 3D audio for the device of the present invention is resonance audio.
[0015] In another aspect, the 3D audio for the device of the present invention is a full-sphere surround sound technique called ambisonics combined with head-related transfer functions (HRTFs).
[0016] In another aspect, the headphones of the device of the present inventioncomprise a filter that maps incoming sound arriving towards the head.
[0017] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a device for detection of hearing loss wherein the head motion tracking sensors are selected from the group consisting of gyroscopes, accelerometers and structured light systems.
[0018] In another aspect, the present invention relates to the device detection of hearing loss wherein the device comprises an external controller that can modify the input in real time to change the images, sound source and environment of virtual reality display.
[0019] In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of detecting a hearing loss comprising the steps of: In another aspect, the method of detecting a hearing loss of the present invention comprises the external step of modifying the input of the device in real time to change the images, sound source and environment of virtual reality display.
[0020] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the device of the present invention.
[0023] FIG.1a illustrates a side view of the device of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0025] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0026] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] Various methods described herein may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage media containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate standard computer hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing various embodiments of the present invention may involve one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and storage systems containing or having network access to computer program(s) coded in accordance with various methods described herein, and the method steps of the invention could be accomplished by modules, routines, subroutines, or subparts of a computer program product.
[0028] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. These exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention disclosed may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed
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in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0029] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0030] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0031] While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described in the claim.
[0032] The present invention generally relates to a device for detection of hearing loss. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device for early detection of hearing loss in infants using virtual reality technology. The present invention also relates to a method of early detection of hearing loss in infants.
[0033] In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a device for detection of hearing loss, the device comprising of:
a head-mounted virtual reality headset integrated with headphones for 3D audio that provides virtual reality display;
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a phone slot for smartphone with a mobile application preinstalled; and
head motion tracking sensors to capture the rotation of head.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, Referring to FIG. 1 wherein the front views of the device is disclosed. As shown, the device for early detecting of hearing loss in infant (also referred to as device hereinafter) can include an appealing outer frame(102)to attract the infant in order to wear the device and a virtual reality headset (104) to have a stereoscopic display and VR headset will help the child to enter in a completely immersive environment.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, Referring to FIG. 1a wherein the side views of the device is disclosed. As shown, the side view of the device can include an appealing outer frame (102) to attract the infant in order to wear the device and a virtual reality headset (104) to have a stereoscopic display and VR headset will help the child to enter in a completely immersive environment.Integrated headphones (106) for 3D audio which is integrated with the VR head set. The device includes a phone slot (108) for holding the smart phone with preinstalled mobile application.
[0036] In an embodiment, the present invention utilizes 3D audio for the headphones integrated with the device. 3D audio is an important factor in believability when it comes to feeling immersed in a virtual world. While Virtual reality (VR) is an interactive computer-generated experience-taking place within a simulated environment. For 3D audio, the present invention uses Google’s Resonance Audio (GRA) and a full-sphere surround sound technique called Ambisonics combined with head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), a filter that maps incoming sound arriving toward your head.
[0037] GRA and VR together, trick the infant’s brain into assigning positions and distance to sounds, even when wearing headphones, which only have two directional outputs for audio. It does this by replicating the methods our brain already uses to perceive and place sounds in real life: the difference in time it takes for a sound to reach your left and right ears, volume differences between our ears, and the changes in a sound’s frequency between our ears. All of these variances in how our right and left ears hear a sound allow us in real life to determine things like distance, height, and where a sound is originating from.
[0038] By delivering quality 3D audio in Virtual Reality, the device of the present invention can impart an interactive experience that modifies itself based on both the object’s movements and the movements of the user. The device of the present invention works on the principle of 'Doppler Effect’ and uses a specially designed virtual reality headset for kids. It is a head-mounted device that provides virtual reality (VR) for the wearer.
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[0039] In an embodiment, the device of the present invention comprise a stereoscopic head-mounted display (providing separate images for each eye), integrated headphones for 3D audio, a phone slot, and head motion tracking sensors.
[0040] In another embodiment, the head motion tracking sensors in the device of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of gyroscopes, accelerometers, structured light systems, etc.).
[0041] A smartphone running mobile application is placed inside the VR headset of the device. The headset will then be worn by the child for the evaluation. The mobile application, along with VR headset will help the child to enter in a completely immersive environment. The mobile application will use 3D audio for sending interactive sounds from different directions. This will be accompanied by interactive visuals which will be placed at the source of the sounds. To detect the hearing capability of a child, different sounds at different intervals from multiple sources will be sent out. The evaluation of hearing ability will be done based upon the reactions of the child to the various sounds. This test is a faster and more efficient way to assess the hearing loss in a child than any other solutions present today.
[0042] In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of detecting a hearing loss comprising the steps of:
(a) mounting a device comprising of a head-mounted virtual reality headset integrated with headphones for 3D audio that provides virtual reality display; a phone slot for smartphone with a mobile application preinstalled; and head motion tracking sensors to capture the rotation of head; and
(b) monitoring the movement of head to read the outcome.
[0043] In another embodiment, the method of detecting a hearing loss comprising the step of external modification of the input of the device in real time to change the images, sound source and environment of virtual reality display.
[0044] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements,
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components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C …. And N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
[0045] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0046] The present invention provides a device that would reduce impact of hearing impairment on speech and language acquisition, academic achievement, and social/emotional development of the kids.
[0047] The present invention provides a device for early detection of hearing loss which gives instant results in infant.
[0048] The present invention provides a device for early detection of hearing loss in infants which gives multiple scenario and Immersive experience.
[0049] The present invention provides a device for early detection of hearing loss in infants which is affordable and highly interactive.

We Claim:
1. A device for detection of hearing loss, the device comprising of:
a head-mounted virtual reality headset integrated with headphones for 3D audio that provides virtual reality display;
a phone slot for smartphone with a mobile application preinstalled; and
head motion tracking sensors to capture the rotation of head.
2. The device for early detection of hearing loss as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head-mounted virtual reality headset comprisesa stereoscopic head-mounted display of providing separate images for each eye.
3. The device for early detection of hearing lossas claimed in claim 1, wherein the 3D audio is resonance audio.
4. The device for early detection of hearing loss as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 3D audio is a full-sphere surround sound technique called ambisonics combined with head-related transfer functions (HRTFs).
5. The device for early detection of hearing loss as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headphones for 3D audio comprises a filter that maps incoming sound arriving towards the head.
6. The device for early detection of hearing loss as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head motion tracking sensors are selected from the group consisting of gyroscopes, accelerometers and structured light systems.
7. The device for early detection of hearing loss as claimed in claim 1, the device further comprises an external controller that can modify the input in real time to change the images, sound source and environment of virtual reality display.
8. A method of detecting a hearing loss comprising the steps of:
(a) mounting a device as claimed in claim1 on the head of infant; and
(b) monitoring the movement of head to read the outcome.
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9. The method of detecting a hearing loss as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the external step of modifying the input of the device in real time to change the images, sound source and environment of virtual reality display.