Portable hearing-related analysis system

Abstract

An improved hearing-related analysis programming system with a host computer for providing at least one hearing aid program and having at least one personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) defined port in combination with a PCMCIA Card inserted in the port and arranged for interacting with the host computer for controlling hearing-related analysis or programming of a hearing aid. The host computer provides power and ground to the PCMCIA Card and provides for downloading the hearing aid programming software to the PCMCIA Card upon initialization. A microprocessor on the PCMCIA Card executes hearing-related analysis or the programming software. A hearing aid interface for adjusting voltage levels and impedance levels is adapted for coupling signals to the hearing aid being programmed. Systems for performing hearing-related analysis include a portable audiometer system on a PCMCIA Card and operable with a portable host computer to analyze hearing of a patient, and a real-ear system on a PCMCIA Card and operable with a portable host computer to analyze output from a hearing aid in a patient's ear.

1 . A system for analyzing hearing-related function in humans comprising: 
 a host processor having first and second personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) defined ports, said host processor including a memory system to store hearing aid programming instructions and hearing analysis instructions;    a first PCMCIA Card coupled to said first PCMCIA defined port, said first PCMCIA Card including first circuits interacting with said host processor to download said hearing aid programming instructions, and further including a first processor system coupled to said first circuits to execute said hearing aid programming instructions;    a second PCMCIA Card coupled to said second PCMCIA defined port, said second PCMCIA Card including second circuits interactive with said host processor to download said hearing-related analyzing instructions, and further including a second processor system coupled to said second circuits to execute said hearing-related analyzing instructions.