WO1998041973A1 - Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them - Google Patents

Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998041973A1
WO1998041973A1 PCT/IL1997/000092 IL9700092W WO9841973A1 WO 1998041973 A1 WO1998041973 A1 WO 1998041973A1 IL 9700092 W IL9700092 W IL 9700092W WO 9841973 A1 WO9841973 A1 WO 9841973A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
earphones
feedback
audiometer
test
examined person
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL1997/000092
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Sharon Akiva
Original Assignee
Tapuz Medical Technology Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tapuz Medical Technology Ltd. filed Critical Tapuz Medical Technology Ltd.
Priority to PCT/IL1997/000092 priority Critical patent/WO1998041973A1/en
Priority to AU21056/97A priority patent/AU2105697A/en
Priority to EP97906336A priority patent/EP0910849A4/en
Priority to CA002283650A priority patent/CA2283650A1/en
Publication of WO1998041973A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998041973A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R29/00Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements
    • H04R29/001Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for loudspeakers
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/12Audiometering

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of systems for the performance of hearing tests for humans, audiometers, and accessories used in these systems.
  • An audiometer is a system for the performance of hearing tests, by way of hearing, either in the left ear, the right ear, 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.
  • 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 reach the earphone not by means of the device. In order to overcome these disturbances, the test is performed by expert technicians in rooms sealed off from external noises. These factors add 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.
  • the present invention is Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones comprised of a pair of hearing ea ⁇ hones and a microphone next to one of the ea ⁇ hones for feedback and calibration, and a Computerized Audiometer comprised of "Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones", a personal computer with testing software, a voice card installed within the computer and a steering stick which assists the examined person to react to the tones and commands.
  • Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones
  • Figure 2 describes the computerized audiometer.
  • Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Earphones, comprised of a pair of hearing ea ⁇ hones (1) which are installed within a hanger (2) which is intended to place the ea ⁇ hones next to the ears of the Hstener and the microphone (3) which is installed next to one of the ea ⁇ hones for feedback.
  • the Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones are used - additionally - for testing with an audiometer.
  • an audiometer it is possible that completely undesirable external noise will reach the ears of the examined person.
  • the present invention makes it possible to transfer to the audiometer exactly what the examined person heard and when the audiometer 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.
  • the invention makes it possible to perform caHbration of what is heard in the ea ⁇ hones.
  • Tones arrive in an electronic manner from the audiometer to the ea ⁇ hones become a hearing tone. Due to limitations of the system, it is possible that the voice tone produced by the ea ⁇ hone is different from that which the system intended to be heard.
  • the microphone(3) next to the ea ⁇ hone absorbs the tone produced by way of the ea ⁇ hone (1) 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.
  • the Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones provide the hearing unit together with feedback which makes possible to filter and/or to take into consideration the completely undesirable external noise and to perform calibration of the system.
  • Figure 2 describes the Computerized Audiometer comprised of Feedback Capable Ea ⁇ hones - comprised of a pair of hearing ea ⁇ hones (1) connected to a hanger (2) which places the ea ⁇ hones next to the ears of the examined person and a microphone which enables feedback (3) installed next to the ea ⁇ hone - the ea ⁇ hones are balanced and return feedback by means of the voice card (4) which produces tones at a frequency and volume according to the instructions of the computer (5) and brings to the program the feedback which arrives from the ea ⁇ hones for the pu ⁇ ose of comparison, the examined person reacts to the hearing tones and/or the commands by means of a steering stick (6) and button (7) which is found at the head of the steering stick, the examined person can move the steering stick forward, backwards or to the sideways according to the instructions heard and can press on the button at the head of the steering stick to confirm hearing of the tone.
  • the program performs a test software, which installed in the computer, that analyzes the results of the examination and an analysis of the test is presented on the screen of the computer.
  • the computerized audiometer 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.
  • the computerized audiometer 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 ea ⁇ hone 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.
  • the computerized audiometer in the present invention can identify external noises that reach the ea ⁇ hone and are absorbed by the microphone within it. In this instance the audiometer neutralizes the influence of the external noise through repeat 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.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention makes the performance of hearing tests simple and inexpensive without the need for soundproof rooms or the voice of a skilled technician. It comprises Feedback Capable Earphones (2) comprised of earphones (1) placed next to the ear and a microphone (3) installed for feedback next to one of the earphones and a Computerized Audiometer comprised of said feedback capable earphones (2), a personal computer (5) with a test program which performs a series of tests and analyzes the results and which can calibrate the volume of the sound heard in the earphones and cancel the influence of external noises, a voice card (4) installed within the computer (5) through which the program of the test plays a series of tones and instructions for the examined person, and a steering stick (6) which helps the examined person to react to the tones and the instructions, using button (7).

Description

FEEDBACK CAPABLE EARPHONES AND A COMPUTERIZED AUDIOMETER WHICH CONTAINS THEM
The present invention relates to the field of systems for the performance of hearing tests for humans, audiometers, and accessories used in these systems.
An audiometer is a system for the performance of hearing tests, by way of hearing, either in the left ear, the right ear, 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 reach the earphone not by means of the device. In order to overcome these disturbances, the test is performed by expert technicians in rooms sealed off from external noises. These factors add 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.
The present invention is Feedback Capable Eaφhones comprised of a pair of hearing eaφhones and a microphone next to one of the eaφhones for feedback and calibration, and a Computerized Audiometer comprised of "Feedback Capable Eaφhones", a personal computer with testing software, a voice card installed within the computer and a steering stick which assists the examined person to react to the tones and commands.
The present invention is described in Figures 1 and 2. These figures are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention and are for purposes of description alone.
Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Eaφhones Figure 2 describes the computerized audiometer. Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Earphones, comprised of a pair of hearing eaφhones (1) which are installed within a hanger (2) which is intended to place the eaφhones next to the ears of the Hstener and the microphone (3) which is installed next to one of the eaφhones for feedback.
The Feedback Capable Eaφhones, according to the present invention, are used - additionally - 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 (3), the present invention makes it possible to transfer to the audiometer exactly what the examined person heard and when the audiometer 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 caHbration 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(3) next to the eaφhone absorbs the tone produced by way of the eaφhone (1) 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. The Feedback Capable Eaφhones, according to the present invention, provide the hearing unit together with feedback which makes possible to filter and/or to take into consideration the completely undesirable external noise and to perform calibration of the system.
Figure 2 describes the Computerized Audiometer comprised of Feedback Capable Eaφhones - comprised of a pair of hearing eaφhones (1) connected to a hanger (2) which places the eaφhones next to the ears of the examined person and a microphone which enables feedback (3) installed next to the eaφhone - the eaφhones are balanced and return feedback by means of the voice card (4) which produces tones at a frequency and volume according to the instructions of the computer (5) and brings to the program the feedback which arrives from the eaφhones for the puφose of comparison, the examined person reacts to the hearing tones and/or the commands by means of a steering stick (6) and button (7) which is found at the head of the steering stick, the examined person can move the steering stick forward, backwards or to the sideways according to the instructions heard and can press on the button at the head of the steering stick to confirm hearing of the tone. At the end of the exam the program performs a test software, which installed in the computer, that analyzes the results of the examination and an analysis of the test is presented on the screen of the computer. 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 repeat 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

1. Feedback Capable Eaφhones comprised of eaφhones for hearing placed next to the ear and a microphone installed for feedback next to one of the eaφhones.
2. A Computerized Audiometer comprised of feedback capable eaφhones as claimed in claim number one, a personal computer with a test program which performs a series of tests and analyzes the results, a voice card installed within the computer through which the program of the test plays a series of tones and instructions for the examined person, and a steering stick which helps the examined person to react to the tones and the instructions.
3. A Computerized Audiometer as claimed in Claim Number 2 wherein the program of the test calibrates the volume of the sound heard in the eaφhone and cancels the influence of external noises.
PCT/IL1997/000092 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them WO1998041973A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IL1997/000092 WO1998041973A1 (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them
AU21056/97A AU2105697A (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them
EP97906336A EP0910849A4 (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them
CA002283650A CA2283650A1 (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IL1997/000092 WO1998041973A1 (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998041973A1 true WO1998041973A1 (en) 1998-09-24

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PCT/IL1997/000092 WO1998041973A1 (en) 1997-03-18 1997-03-18 Feedback capable earphones and a computerized audiometer which contains them

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0910849A4 (en)
AU (1) AU2105697A (en)
CA (1) CA2283650A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1998041973A1 (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2180409A1 (en) * 2001-02-21 2003-02-01 Gil Juan Sancho Computer digital sound-level meter applying "noise-shaping" techniques in signal generation
WO2003099121A2 (en) 2002-05-23 2003-12-04 Tympany, Inc. System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests
US7288072B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2007-10-30 Tympany, Inc. User interface for automated diagnostic hearing test
US7736321B2 (en) 2003-05-15 2010-06-15 Tympany, Llc Computer-assisted diagnostic hearing test
US8366632B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2013-02-05 Tympany, Llc Stenger screening in automated diagnostic hearing test
US8394032B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2013-03-12 Tympany Llc Interpretive report in automated diagnostic hearing test
EP3471441A3 (en) * 2017-10-12 2019-07-10 Rion Co., Ltd. Earphone for audiometer, and audiometer
CN114176580A (en) * 2021-12-27 2022-03-15 深圳市中医院 Hearing detection device and method
WO2022218093A1 (en) * 2021-04-14 2022-10-20 Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 Audio signal compensation method and apparatus, earphone, and storage medium

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5197332A (en) * 1992-02-19 1993-03-30 Calmed Technology, Inc. Headset hearing tester and hearing aid programmer
US5481615A (en) * 1993-04-01 1996-01-02 Noise Cancellation Technologies, Inc. Audio reproduction system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4615007A (en) * 1984-09-14 1986-09-30 Audiometrics, Inc. Audiologic testing method and apparatus with compensating means for soundwave attenuation through a transmitting medium
US4966160A (en) * 1986-10-02 1990-10-30 Virtual Corporation Acoustic admittance measuring apparatus with wide dynamic range and logarithmic output

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5197332A (en) * 1992-02-19 1993-03-30 Calmed Technology, Inc. Headset hearing tester and hearing aid programmer
US5481615A (en) * 1993-04-01 1996-01-02 Noise Cancellation Technologies, Inc. Audio reproduction system

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2180409A1 (en) * 2001-02-21 2003-02-01 Gil Juan Sancho Computer digital sound-level meter applying "noise-shaping" techniques in signal generation
US7695441B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2010-04-13 Tympany, Llc Automated diagnostic hearing test
US8394032B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2013-03-12 Tympany Llc Interpretive report in automated diagnostic hearing test
US7465277B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2008-12-16 Tympany, Llc System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests
US7018342B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2006-03-28 Tympany, Inc. Determining masking levels in an automated diagnostic hearing test
US7037274B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2006-05-02 Tympany, Inc. System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests with ambient noise measurement
US7258671B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2007-08-21 Tympany, Inc. Wearable apparatus for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests
US7288072B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2007-10-30 Tympany, Inc. User interface for automated diagnostic hearing test
US7288071B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2007-10-30 Tympany, Inc. Speech discrimination in automated diagnostic hearing test
US6964642B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2005-11-15 Tympany, Inc. Apparatus for bone conduction threshold hearing test
WO2003099121A2 (en) 2002-05-23 2003-12-04 Tympany, Inc. System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests
US8308653B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2012-11-13 Tympany, Llc Automated diagnostic hearing test
US8529464B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2013-09-10 Tympany, Llc Computer-assisted diagnostic hearing test
US8366632B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2013-02-05 Tympany, Llc Stenger screening in automated diagnostic hearing test
WO2003099121A3 (en) * 2002-05-23 2004-10-14 Tympany Inc System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests
US7736321B2 (en) 2003-05-15 2010-06-15 Tympany, Llc Computer-assisted diagnostic hearing test
EP3471441A3 (en) * 2017-10-12 2019-07-10 Rion Co., Ltd. Earphone for audiometer, and audiometer
WO2022218093A1 (en) * 2021-04-14 2022-10-20 Oppo广东移动通信有限公司 Audio signal compensation method and apparatus, earphone, and storage medium
CN114176580A (en) * 2021-12-27 2022-03-15 深圳市中医院 Hearing detection device and method
CN114176580B (en) * 2021-12-27 2022-06-17 深圳市中医院 Hearing detection device and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2283650A1 (en) 1998-09-24
EP0910849A4 (en) 2000-06-28
AU2105697A (en) 1998-10-12
EP0910849A1 (en) 1999-04-28

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