WO2005094177A2

WO2005094177A2 - An audiometer

Info

Publication number: WO2005094177A2
Application number: PCT/IL2005/000366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Akiva Sharon
Original assignee: Tapuz Medical Technologies (T.M.T. 2004) Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-04-04
Filing date: 2005-04-03
Publication date: 2005-10-13
Also published as: EP1733595A2; IL161302A0; WO2005094177A3

Abstract

A new audiometer for hearing test is disclosed. 'Audiometer' (1) is a system for the performance of hearing tests, by way of hearing, either in the left ear or in the right ear. The test is performed through hearing tones of various frequencies and volumes, among these directing by tone of speech at differing volume levels. The new audiometer is comprised of a feedback capable earphones (11) including hearing earphones and microphone (15), an audio signal generator (13) to utter sounds in the earphones (11), a steering-stick (16) with a button (16a), enabling the tested person to react to the uttered sounds and a controller operative, using dedicated software, for performing the tests.

Description

An Audiometer

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of medical testing

accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to audiometers,

which are systems for hearing tests performance of human beings. Moreover,

the present invention includes an accessory that is used in the present

invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An audiometer is a system for the performance of hearing tests, by

way of hearing, either in the left ear or in the right ear. The test is performed

through hearing tones of various frequencies and volumes, among these

directing by tone of speech at differing volume levels. The hearing is done by

earphones, which rest on the ears of the examined person. The results of the

test are determined according to the response or lack of response of the

examined person to the tones and/or to the directions given. When the guide, of the test, sets the audiometer so that the examined

person will hear a tone at a specific frequency and volume, the guide must be

certain that what is heard in the earphone, which is located at the closest point

to the ear of the examined person, is in fact identical with what the guide

intended to be heard.

The reliability of the test can be harmed by several factors. Two of the

more important of these are: a) lack of accurate correspondence between the

tone heard and between what the guide of the test intended to be heard; b)

disturbing external noise which may reach the earphone, however, not by

means of the device. In order to overcome these disturbances, expert

technicians are in sealed off rooms from the external noises in order to

perform the test. These factors added make the test more expensive and can

hamper performance.

The present invention overcomes these two factors and makes it

possible to perform the test with relative ease in any reasonable place. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an audiometer for a hearing test and feedback

capable eaφhones.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is

provided feedback capable eaφhones comprised of one or two hearing

eaφhones and at least one microphone for feedback that is installed inside of

one or both of the eaφhones.

According to another aspect of the present invention it is provided an

audiometer for a hearing test comprising:

^■ feedback capable eaφhones as defined; ^■ an audio signal generator to utter sounds in the eaφhones;

^■ a steering-stick with a button, enabling the tested person to react to the uttered sounds; and

^■ a controller operative, using dedicated software, for: o commands the audio signal generator regarding the sounds' type, the volume of the sounds and the uttering timing;

o receives from the audio signal generator the same signal that is supplying to the eaφhones;

o receiving the feedback signals from the microphones and compares the feedback signals with the received signals from the audio signal generator;

o adjusting the audio signal generator according to the comparison, to have the required uttering in the eaφhone or using the feedback signals for the test analysis;

o receiving the reactions of the tested person;

o comparing between the tested person's reactions and the uttered signals, using dedicated software; and

o analyzing the tested person's reaction in accordance to the uttered audio signal, sounds and commands and displaying a test report. According to another preferred embodiment the audiometer of the present invention is provided, wherein at least part of the controller tasks are

operative by an operator.

By another aspect of the present invention it is provided a method for

accurate hearing tests comprising:

^■ installing a microphone in at least one of the testing eaφhones;

^■ comparing between the required signal and the uttered signal in the eaφhone; and

^■ adjusting the signal source to have the required signal in the eaφhone.

By a preferred embodiment the method is provided, wherein a

computing means with dedicated software dose the process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of

example and for puφoses of illustrative discussion of the preferred

embodiments of the present invention- only, and are presented in the cause of

providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood

description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this

regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more

detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the

description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the

art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

The present invention is described in Figure 1. This figure is not

intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention and is for puφoses of

description alone.

Figure 1 describes a computerized audiometer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

The feedback capable eaφhones, according to the present invention,

are used for testing with an audiometer. At the time of the examination, with

an audiometer, it is possible that completely undesirable external noise will reach the ears of the examined person. By means of a microphone, the

present invention makes it possible to transfer to a computer exactly what the

examined person heard and when the computer identifies that the tone heard

was interfered with by completely undesirable external noise, it is able to

cancel the unwanted effect by repeating the disturbed test or by indicating

through analysis of the examination exactly what the examined person heard.

Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to perform calibration of

what is heard in the eaφhones. Tones arrive in an electronic manner from the

audiometer to the eaφhones become a hearing tone. Due to limitations of the

system, it is possible that the voice tone produced by the eaφhone is different

from that which the system intended to be heard. The microphone next to the

eaφhone absorbs the tone produced by way of the eaφhone and turns it into

an electronic wave, which is returned to the system as feedback for

comparison between the tone heard and that which the system intended to be

heard, in this manner the system is able to calibrate itself.

Through using feedback capable eaφhones, according to the present

invention, there is provided a hearing unit together with feedback, which makes a possibility to filter and/or take into consideration the completely

undesirable external noise in order to perform calibration of the system.

Figure 1 describes the computerized audiometer comprised of a

feedback capable eaφhones 11 comprised of a pair of hearing eaφhones 12

connected to a hanger which places the eaφhones next to the ears of the

examined person and microphones 15, which enables feedback are installed

inside the hearing eaφhones 12. The computer 14 commands the signal

generator 13 to utter a defined audio signal in the hearing eaφhones 12. The

signal generator 13 produces tone at a frequency and volume according to the

instructions of the computer 14 and utters the audio sound in the hearing

eaφhones 12 while the microphones 15 return feedback to the computer 14.

The computer receives from the signal generator 14 the same sound that is

received by the hearing eaφhones 12. The computer 14 compares between

the generator sound 13 and the feedback sound to check if the audio sound

that is uttered by the hearing eaφhones 12 is as defined. If there are

differences between the sounds, the computer 14 adjusts the signal generator

13 to have the defined audio sound in the hearing eaφhones 12. Moreover, if

the feedback indicated that additional sounds are arriving to the tested person hears, the computer 14 can take this sound into account when analyzing the

test results.

The examined person reacts to the hearing tones and/or the commands

by means of a steering stick 16 and button 16a, which is found at the head of

the steering stick 16. The examined person can move the steering stick 16

forward, backwards or to the sideways according to the instructions heard and

can press on the button 16a at the head of the steering stick 16 to confirm

hearing of the tone. At the end of the exam the computer 14 performs a test

software, which is installed in the computer 14, that analyzes the results of

the examination and the analysis of the test is presented on the screen of the

computer 14.

The computerized audiometer, according to the invention, can

perform the test automatically or by operation of the operator and play for the

examined person a series of tones at differing frequencies and volumes where

the examined person is required to press on the button at the end of the

steering stick to confirm hearing of the tone. Failure to press within the time

rationed indicates not hearing. Likewise, the computerized audiometer, according to the invention, plays instructions to move the steering stick - by

speech tone at differing volumes - in different directions, requiring the

examined person to react and to perform the instructions played. Lack of

response in the time rationed indicates lack of hearing the instruction. The

examination is performed on each ear separately.

The advantage of the present invention is that it answers the two

central problems of existing systems for hearing tests. The computerized

audiometer comprised in the present invention calibrates itself by means of

the eaφhone with the microphone installed within it and the tone played for

the examined person is exactly what the audiometer or the operated requested

to be heard. Likewise, the computerized audiometer in the present invention

can identify external noises that reach the eaφhone and are absorbed by the

microphone within it. In this instance the audiometer neutralizes the influence

of the external noise through repeated performance of the disturbed test and

through consideration of the components of noise in the analysis of the results

of the examination.

The advantages of the system comprised by the present invention make the performance of hearing tests simple and inexpensive without need

for soundproof rooms or the skillful voice of a technician.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Feedback capable eaφhones comprised of one or two hearing eaφhones and at least one microphone for feedback that is installed inside of one or both of said eaφhones.

2. An audiometer for hearing test comprising: ■ feedback capable eaφhones as defined in claim 1 ;

^■ an audio signal generator to utter sounds in said eaφhones;

^■ a steering-stick with a button, enabling the tested person to react to said uttered sounds; and

■ a controller operative, using dedicated software, for: o commands said audio signal generator regarding the sounds' type, the volume of said sounds and the uttering timing and/or announcing commands to said tested person; o receives from said audio signal generator the same signal that is supplying to said eaφhones; o receiving the feedback signals and sounds from said microphones and compares said feedback signals and sounds with the received signals from said audio signal generator; o adjusting said audio signal generator according to said comparison, to have the required uttering in said eaφhone and/or using said received feedback signal and sound for the test analyzing; o receiving the reactions of said tested person; o comparing between said tested person reactions and said uttered signals, using dedicated software; and o analyzing said tested person reaction in accordance to said uttered audio signal, sounds and commands and displaying a test report.

3. The audiometer of claim 2, wherein at least part of said controller tasks are operative by an operator.

4. A method for accurate hearing tests comprising: ^■ installing a microphone in at least one of the testing eaφhones;

^■ comparing between the required signal and the uttered signal in said eaφhone; and ■ adjusting the signal source to have the required signal in the eaφhone and or using the feedback sounds for the test analysis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the process is done by a computing means with dedicated software.