1. A method of assessing hearing characteristics of a subject, the method comprising: determining a hearing capability of the subject based on responses of the subject to a series of sounds presented to the subject, each sound corresponding to a presence, absence or irrelevance of a predetermined plurality of features; and assigning the subject to one of a predetermined plurality of classes based upon the responses of the subject, each of the plurality of classes being derived from hearing tests performed on a plurality of other subjects.