JP3527946B2 - Mobile hearing diagnosis system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing diagnosis system, and more particularly to a mobile telephone such as a mobile telephone and a PHS, and a mobile information communication equipment such as a personal computer (in this specification, these are collectively referred to as "mobile equipment". ") And a hearing diagnosis device via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hearing-diagnosis apparatus in which the wires of the patient's headphones are not physically connected to the diagnosis apparatus is shown in FIG. 4 (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-501).
625). This hearing diagnosis apparatus has a control unit 20 and a remote unit 30, and includes a control unit 2
0 is a control console 21, an audiometer 22, a printer 23,
The remote unit 30 includes a headphone 31, a transmitter 32, and a receiver 33.
And a hand pad 34.

To perform a patient examination, the control unit 20
The signal is transmitted from the transmitter 24 of the above to the headphones 31 of the remote unit 30. When the patient listens to the signal, the hand pad 3
4. Press one of the buttons 35 or 36 on 4 to respond. This causes the oscillator 32 of the remote unit 30 to send an appropriate response signal to the control unit 20. The receiver 25 receives the signal from the remote unit 30 and sends the demodulated response signal to the control console 21.
The control console 21 displays the test result on the audiometer 22 according to the incoming response signal.

[0004]

In the conventional hearing diagnosis apparatus, a patient who undergoes a hearing diagnosis must go to a hospital or the like equipped with the hearing diagnosis apparatus to undergo an examination. Especially for elderly people with marked hearing loss, despite the need for regular hearing tests to use hearing aids
Since it was difficult to go to hospitals and other places, it was often the case that they were left alone, resulting in a crippled life. Also, if you do not notice hearing loss, or if you think your hearing has deteriorated, it is troublesome and often left as it is, and it often deteriorates considerably when you receive a doctor's diagnosis. On the other hand, considering the convenience that mobile devices will spread and play a role as an information terminal such as mail and the Internet in addition to the conventional role as a voice communication device, in the future, terminals for mobile banking systems and network information appliances It is indispensable to deeply penetrate into the life of elderly people with deteriorated physical function as remote control of. Mobile devices such as mobile phones are different from fixed phones,
It basically belongs to an individual. Therefore, it is suitable for adapting to individual characteristics such as the elderly and the disabled.

However, the sound quality of the current mobile devices such as mobile phones as communication tools is unclear because the number of communication channels is prioritized as the number of subscribers increases and the amount of transmitted data is suppressed. Sound quality was sacrificed, such as breaks. In particular, it is very difficult to hear in a noisy environment such as an outdoor environment where the mobile phone is used, and it is difficult to say that the acuity is sufficiently secured for the elderly who noticeably lose hearing. On the other hand, the global standard I of the next-generation mobile communication system
In MT-2000, communication quality equal to or higher than that of the current fixed telephone service will be realized.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and a mobile unit such as a mobile phone can be provided without the patient having to bother to go to a hospital equipped with a hearing diagnosis apparatus. The purpose is to provide a mobile hearing diagnosis system that allows you to easily test and diagnose your hearing ability from any place you want from a telephone.Specifically, using a mobile device as a hearing diagnosis system terminal, It is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing diagnosis system in which an automatic hearing diagnosis device is installed on the Internet. Another object of the present invention is to automate the periodical hearing test and facilitate the storage and management of diagnostic results. Also,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile hearing diagnosis system for testing a necessary hearing in a usage environment of a mobile device.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention connects a mobile device and a hearing diagnosis device via a mobile phone network and an internet network, and the hearing from the mobile device is achieved. It is characterized by being able to receive a diagnosis. Further, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the hearing diagnosis device is composed of a server computer and a hearing chart database. In addition, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention,
The mobile device is equipped with a digital signal processor. Further, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the guidance sound and the inspection sound are generated by the hearing diagnosis device. Further, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the inspection sound is generated by the digital signal processor of the mobile device.

The mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the mobile device is provided with an earphone. In addition, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that environmental noise around the mobile device is collected and whether the hearing test is appropriate or not is determined. In addition, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that a test request is periodically transmitted from the hearing diagnosis device to the mobile device. Further, the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention is characterized in that the test result is automatically reflected in the hearing chart database of the hearing diagnosis apparatus.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an overall outline of a mobile hearing diagnosis system. 1 is a mobile phone, which is a mobile device, 2 is a hearing diagnosis device, 3 is a server computer, 5 is a hearing chart database. A patient who wants to receive a hearing diagnosis, that is, a subject 10, connects to the Internet from the mobile phone 1 through a mobile phone network, accesses the hearing diagnosis device 2 connected to the Internet, and receives the hearing diagnosis.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the remote hearing diagnosis system, in which noise measurement, character guide, voice guide / inspection sound, and subject response are shown. The character guide such as the audiometry method generated by the server computer 3 is transmitted from the transmission / reception filter of the mobile phone 1 via the mobile phone network and the Internet network to the mobile phone via the receiver, the demodulator, and the wireless access method processing unit. 1 is displayed on the screen. Similarly, the voice guide / inspection sound generated by the server computer 3 is transmitted through the mobile phone network and the Internet network to the mobile phone 1.
And is output from the speaker 6 of the mobile phone 1 via the receiver, the demodulator, the wireless access method processing unit, the digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as "DSP") and the D / A converter. It

On the other hand, the response from the subject 10 is transmitted from the operation key input section of the mobile phone 1 to the wireless access system processing section.
It enters the server computer 3 of the hearing diagnosis apparatus 2 from the transmission / reception filter via the mobile phone network and the internet network via the waveform generation circuit, the modulator and the amplifier.

The hearing diagnosis is performed in the following manner. (1) When a patient who wants to receive an audiological diagnosis, that is, a subject 10 wants to receive an audiological diagnosis, first, an audiological diagnosis request is made from his / her mobile phone 1. This hearing diagnosis request signal is received by the server computer 3, and reception for hearing diagnosis is performed. (2) When the reception is completed, the server computer 3 displays a text guide or voice guide for preparing for the subject's diagnosis, for example, "Is earwax removed? Is there otitis externa or eczema?""15 minutes Have you heard any excessive noise from the front? ”“ Are you removing your hearing aids? ”Etc. The subject 10 who has seen or heard these character guides or voice guides through the mobile phone 1 responds by pressing the operation key [0] as confirmation.

(3) Next, in preparation for the inspection equipment / inspection environment, first, for the purpose of inspection of the noise level, the server computer 3 "measures the environmental noise. Until the next instruction is given, it is kept for 10 seconds. Please wait quietly. " At the same time, the environmental noise collected through the microphone 7 of the mobile phone 1 is measured from the A / D converter, the DSP, the wireless access method processing unit, the waveform generation circuit, the modulator, the amplifier and the transmission / reception filter to the mobile phone network and the Internet network. Is input to the hearing diagnosis device 2 via the. If the test environment is not satisfied, move to a quiet place or take necessary measures such as performing the test at a quiet time such as midnight. Send an impossible signal. If the environment is suitable for hearing tests,
To confirm the posture of the subject 10, "Please sit comfortably on a chair etc. and take a comfortable posture." Is transmitted. The subject 10 presses the operation key [0] as confirmation.

(4) Next, from the server computer 3, a description of the inspection procedure, for example, "If the inspection sound begins to be faint, press the operation key [0] immediately. While the inspection sound is heard, Keep pressing the operation key. Please respond even if the sound is very low. "" If you cannot hear the test sound, immediately release the operation key [0]. " Please inspect the left ear after announcing the completion of the right ear examination.
z, 4000Hz, 8000Hz, and then 1000Hz, 500Hz, 250Hz, 125H
z and frequency will decrease. "Send" If you have any troubles during the inspection, you can continue the inspection by pressing operation key [1]. If you want to restart the inspection, press operation key [3]. " To do. The subject 10 presses the operation key [0] as confirmation.

(5) Next, the server computer 3 sends information for mounting the handset, for example, "please attach earphones to both ears.""Do not touch earphones during inspection." To do. The subject 10 presses the operation key [0] as confirmation. (6) Next, for the preliminary inspection, the server computer 3
, "Okay, I will start the preliminary inspection. Keep pressing the operation key [0] while the inspection sound is heard. Then, the inspection will start. If you are ready, operation key [0]
Please press. If you want to stop, press the operation key [1]. If you want to cancel, press the operation key [7]. ", The subject 10 presses the operation key [0] for confirmation. After that, 1000Hz, 40d
B inspection sound is transmitted. When a response is obtained from the subject 10, it is lowered in 10 to 20 dB steps until there is no response. 10-20 dB if no response is obtained
Raise until step responds. Then turn it down until there is no response. Then, the level of the inspection sound is raised in 5 dB steps to obtain the level at which a response is obtained for the first time. The level at which the first response was heard,
At a level 5 dB higher than that, the test sound presentation and pause are repeated once or twice to confirm whether the sound presentation pattern and the response pattern are the same. Next, from the server computer 3, "Preliminary inspection was completed successfully." . "And the display of the completion of the preliminary inspection is transmitted. The preliminary examination is carried out for the purpose of suppressing the general hearing of the subject for this examination and for getting them familiar with the examination method.

(7) Next, the main inspection is started.
Audiometry (ISO8253.2, 1992, ISO6
189, 1983), a pure tone audiometric test is performed to determine the threshold value, and a suprathreshold audiometric test is performed to test actual hearing in daily life. The above-threshold hearing test is a test necessary for measuring a phenomenon (replenishment phenomenon) in which the change in the loudness of the subjective sound due to the change in the physical sound intensity is abnormally larger than that in the normal ear. The following is a description of this test using the pure tone hearing test as an example. First, the frequency of the inspection sound is set to 1000 Hz. The level is gradually increased by 5 dB from the level 20 dB lower than the response level of the preliminary inspection. If the subject hears, the subject presses the operation key [0] as a response. 5 than the obtained response level
Raise it by 10 dB to clearly reconfirm the inspection sound. Again 10
Decrease the level by -20 dB and re-determine if similar results are obtained by the above method. If the subject hears, the subject presses the operation key [0] as a response. When a response is obtained twice at the same level in three trials, the value is set as the hearing level of 1000 Hz. When the measured values of three times are different by 15 dB or more, the description is repeated and then the procedure of the main inspection is repeated. At that time, from the server computer 3, "It seems that you do not understand the inspection result and the inspection method correctly.
Please listen carefully as I will explain it again. It is sent. The frequency is changed and the inspection procedure is repeated. After completing the examination of one ear, follow the same procedure for the other ear. At that time, the message "the right ear has been inspected. Next, the left ear will be inspected. Please press the operation key [0] if you like" is transmitted. After measuring the hearing level of each frequency, fill in the audiogram each time by the specified method. At the same time, "Inspection is completed. I will report the inspection result and the diagnostic result." Is sent and the inspection result and the diagnostic result are displayed on the screen.

(8) The test results are automatically written in the hearing chart database 5 of the hearing diagnosis apparatus 2, and the audiogram and the loudness curve showing the hearing of the subject are created to judge the degree of hearing and the hearing type. It is saved as a diagnostic result. (9) In addition, the server computer 3 of the hearing diagnosis apparatus 2 periodically issues an inspection request via the mobile phone network and the Internet network.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the mobile hearing diagnosis system, which differs from the first embodiment in that the inspection sound is generated by the DSP. is doing. The procedure of the hearing test is similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, (1) a user, such as an elderly person who intends to undergo a hearing diagnosis, does not bother to go to a hospital equipped with a hearing diagnosis device or a hearing aid store. You can get a hearing test anytime, anywhere. (2) Since the program is downloaded from the server to the mobile device for each procedure and the inspection program is executed on Java, etc.
The mobile phone terminal does not require any special device or function for hearing diagnosis. That is, the DSP is required in the mobile phone for generation of the inspection sound and sound quality fitting, but it is considered that the DSP is built in as a sound source for music distribution in the next-generation mobile phone. Further, even if the diagnosis method is improved, it can be dealt with only by rewriting the program database on the server. (3) A test request for periodic diagnosis is automatically requested from the server computer to the mobile device, and the test result is automatically stored in the hearing chart database of the subject database on the server computer. Therefore, it is possible to regularly receive a diagnosis without forgetting. (4) By monitoring noise using a microphone equipped in mobile devices such as mobile phones,
It is possible to find an appropriate inspection place, and a low noise environment does not require a special inspection place. (5) There is an advantage that hearing loss assessment and fatigue level inspection can be performed by the hearing chart database of the hearing diagnosis device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the mobile hearing diagnosis system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional hearing test apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Mobile phones, which are mobile devices 2 Hearing diagnosis device 3 server computers 5 hearing chart database 6 speakers 7 microphone 10 subjects   Noise measurement   Character guide   Voice guide, inspection sound   Subject response

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mobile hearing diagnostic system in which a mobile phone and a hearing diagnosis device are connected via a mobile phone network so that the hearing test can be received from the mobile phone. The character guide is displayed on the screen from the transmission / reception filter of the mobile phone via the receiver, demodulator, and wireless access system processing unit via the mobile phone network, and is also generated by the hearing diagnosis device.
The generated audio guide is carried over the mobile phone network.
From the transmission / reception filter of the band telephone to the receiver, demodulator, wireless
Access processing unit, digital signal processor and
And output from the speaker via the D / A converter
With the inspection sound is the digital signal processor
Generated from the speaker via the D / A converter
Is output, the radio access method processing unit from the response operation key input unit of the mobile phone from the subject, the waveform generating circuit, a modulator, an amplifier, as through the transmission and reception filters, enters the hearing diagnostic device via the mobile telephone network A mobile hearing diagnosis system characterized by 2. The mobile hearing diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the hearing diagnosis apparatus comprises a server computer and a hearing chart database. 3. The mobile hearing diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone includes an earphone. 4. The mobile hearing diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein environmental noise around the mobile phone is collected by a microphone to determine whether the hearing test is suitable or not. system. 5. The mobile hearing diagnosis system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an inspection request is periodically sent from the hearing diagnosis device to the mobile phone. 6. The mobile hearing diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the test result is automatically reflected in the hearing chart database of the hearing diagnosis apparatus.