Inspire
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Hearing Aid Test

Hearing Aid Test is a tool that measures the hearing aid's performance to compare the test box results to the custom data sheet if desired. Based on ANSI protocol, Inspire provides three different settings that can be used: Full On Gain, User Gain, and Reference Test Gain. Full on Gain sets the aids to full on gain to measure manufacturing specifications in a test box, User Gain sets the aids to gain settings programmed by the professional to test individual adaptive features, and Reference Test Gain sets the aids to the appropriate gain setting to test volume control gain, the telecoil, and compression ratios. Only one setting can be selected at a time, therefore, if one test is currently in progress and another test is selected, the previous test is stopped and the new test is started.

 

During any test, the hearing aid(s) can be disconnected if necessary to reach the test box. However, once any test is complete, the hearing aid(s) must be returned to the user settings before exiting this screen, therefore, the aid(s) must be reconnected prior to resetting. If the hearing aid(s) is not reconnected and Inspire is closed without resetting, the aid(s) is Best Fit the next time it's connected.

  1. Connect and select the desired hearing aid(s) to test via Get Started.
  2. Click on the Read Device Settings radio button and then click Start.

  3. Click Advanced Tools from the Left Navigation Menu.

  4. Click Hearing Aid Test.
    Note:  Regardless of the graphical view currently selected, 2cc Coupler Output and Input Type: Sinusoid displays on the fitting graph while on this screen.
  5. Inspire automatically defaults to a binaural Select Binaural or Select Binaural view if applicable. To test only the right or left hearing aid, click Select Right Only or Select Right Only, or Select Left Only or Select Left Only.
    Note:  Different tests can be performed on each aid at the same time if desired. If testing CROS/BiCROS devices, only the receiver aid can be tested, therefore, the side cannot be selected.
  6. Test via Full On Gain, User Gain, or Reference Test Gain.
    Note:  Once a test is selected, the hearing aid(s) is automatically unmuted (only if muted prior to starting the test). The hearing aid(s) can be muted while the test is in progress if desired.
    Note:  If any settings are changed during the tests, they can't be undone.
Full On GainFull On Gain
  1. Click Full On Gain and a warning message to remove the hearing aid(s) from the patient’s ear(s) displays.
    Note:  The button changes to blue indicating that the test is in progress and the button "Return to User Settings" is enabled. In addition, a "Full On Gain" watermark appears across the frequency response curves.
  2. Remove the hearing aid(s) from the patient’s ear(s) and click OK.
    Note:  The hearing aid(s) is not set to full on gain until OK is selected. This test can only be performed in Memory 1. All adaptive features are turned OFF and the directional microphone is set to Omni and neither setting can be changed while this test is in progress.
  3. Once the test box is complete, click Return to User Settings to set the hearing aid(s) back to the previous settings before exiting the screen or click Full On Gain again.
    Note:  If another Inspire screen is accessed before returning the hearing aid(s) to user settings, a message displays. Click OK to reset the aid(s).

 

User GainUser Gain
  1. Click User Gain.
    Note:  The button changes to blue indicating that the test is in progress and the button "Return to User Settings" is enabled. Probe microphone measurements can be completed without the influence of the adaptive features.
  2. Click on the specific memory to test if applicable.
  3. To test an adaptive feature, click on the feature button and select the desired setting from the pop-up list.
    Note:  Adaptive features can only be adjusted during this test and not during Full On Gain or Reference Test Gain. The settings available are based on the hearing aid connected and the state of the adaptive feature. For example, Static will only be available for Feedback Canceller if a successful initialization has occurred during the current fitting.
  4. To test a different memory, repeat steps 2-3.
  5. Once the test is complete, click Return to User Settings to set the hearing aid(s) back to the previous settings before exiting the screen or click User Gain again.
    Note:  If another Inspire screen is accessed before returning the hearing aid(s) to user settings, a message displays. Click OK to reset the aid(s).

 

Reference Test GainReference Test Gain
  1. Click Reference Test Gain and a warning message to remove the hearing aid(s) from the patient’s ear(s) displays.
    Note:  The button changes to blue indicating that the test is in progress and the button "Return to User Settings" is enabled.
  2. Remove the hearing aid(s) from the patient’s ear(s) and click OK.
    Note:  The hearing aid(s) is not set to the appropriate gain setting until OK is selected. This test can only be performed in Memory 1.
    Note:  Memories 1 and 2 are shown as Normal and memories 3 and 4 are shown as Telecoil. The recommended volume control RTG level per ear side also displays.
  3. To test a different volume control gain, click or to increase or decrease the reference test gain binaurally, or drag the slider bars Adjust gain all right Adjust gain all left to increase or decrease the gain per ear side.
  4. To test a specific memory, click on the radio button representing the desired preset/memory.
    Note:  Directional (Memory 2) is only enabled if the hearing aid supports a directional system and Telecoil (Memory 3) and Telecoil M/T (Memory 4) are only enabled if the hearing aid contains an induction coil.
  5. To select a different compression ratio, click on the radio or ratio button representing the desired ratio.
    Note:  These buttons are only enabled if Omni (Memory 1) is selected. Selecting 3:1 decreases loud gain to its lowest possible setting.
  6. Once the test is complete, click Return to User Settings to set the hearing aid(s) back to the previous settings before exiting the screen or click Reference Test Gain again.
    Note:  If another Inspire screen is accessed before returning the hearing aid(s) to user settings, a message displays. Click OK to reset the aid(s).