JP3664649B2 - Hearing test equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an audiometry device that presents a test sound to a subject and inspects the subject's pure tone hearing based on whether or not the test sound from the subject is heard.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional hearing test apparatus is known which includes an operation panel unit 101 and a display unit 102 in a hearing test apparatus main body 100 and displays a pure tone audio test result as an audiogram on the display unit 102. ing. Reference numeral 103 is a hearing test handset, and 104 is a response switch.
[0003]
The operation panel unit 101 includes a plurality of frequency changeover switches 101a, a test sound level variable dial 101b, a hearing level input switch 101c, and the like. By operating these, a test sound of a predetermined level is heard at a predetermined frequency. Output from the test handset 103.
When the test sound output from the hearing test handset 103 is heard, the response switch 104 is continuously pressed. When the test sound is not heard, the tester and the subject are requested to stop pressing. Keep between.
[0004]
A signal indicating whether or not the response switch 104 is pressed is input to the hearing test apparatus main body 100. Only when the response switch 104 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 5, the response switch on / off display window 102a disposed at the lower left corner of the display unit 102 is lit. The examiner displays on / off of the response switch 104 while increasing or decreasing the inspection sound level at a plurality of inspection sound frequencies (for example, seven frequencies of 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 8000 Hz). The hearing level as a threshold value is determined by visually checking the lighting state of the window 102a.
[0005]
The hearing level as a test result is displayed by the marker 105 a in the audiogram created on the screen 105. The marker 105a shown in FIG. 5 is located at the intersection of a frequency of 1000 Hz and a hearing level of 40 dB. An inspection sound frequency display window 102b and an inspection sound level window 102c are provided in the lower left corner of the display unit 102, and display the frequency and inspection sound level at the time of inspection, respectively.
[0006]
Since the examiner performs the above-described operation on both the right ear and the left ear on the air conduction sound and the bone conduction sound, 7 (type of frequency) × 2 (air conduction sound and bone conduction sound) × 2 (right This is done at 28 points (ear and left ear). Then, at each point, the examiner confirms whether or not the response switch 104 is pressed while raising or lowering the examination sound level, and determines the hearing level as a threshold value. .
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the examiner's greatest concern in the hearing test is what the subject's audiogram will be, the examiner inevitably watches the audiogram being created on the screen 105 even during the examination. It will be.
However, in order to obtain a hearing level at 28 points, the examiner must alternately view the movement of the response switch on / off display window 102a and the marker 105a forming the audiogram several times, at least 28 times. The movement of the line of sight gives fatigue to the examiner, which has been a factor in reducing the accuracy and efficiency of the hearing test.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an audiometry device that allows the examiner to easily visually check whether or not the subject is responding. It is something to try.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 presents an inspection sound to the subject based on the operation of the examiner, and displays the inspection result based on the output signal of the response switch operated by the subject. In the hearing test apparatus that executes the hearing test while sequentially drawing on the display screen, the form of the elements constituting the audiogram is changed depending on whether the response switch is pressed or not. .
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the hearing test device according to the first aspect, the form of the element constituting the audiogram is a background color of the display screen displaying the audiogram.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hearing test apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen at the start of the hearing test, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the middle of the hearing test. .
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the hearing test apparatus according to the present invention comprises a hearing test apparatus main body 1, a hearing test air-conducting handset 2, a hearing test bone-conducting handset (not shown) and a response switch 3. It is a device that performs inspection. The hearing test apparatus main body 1 includes an operation panel unit 4 and a liquid crystal display unit 5.
[0013]
The operation panel unit 4 includes a plurality of frequency change-over switches 4a for switching the frequency of the test sound, a rotary test sound level variable dial 4b for switching the level of the test sound, and an audio level input switch for capturing the hearing level of the subject. 4c and an inspection sound presentation lamp 4d that is turned on when an inspection sound is presented.
[0014]
The frequency changeover switch 4a is provided in the number corresponding to the inspection sounds of a plurality of frequencies such as 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 4000Hz, 8000Hz, and when the frequency changeover switch 4a having a desired frequency is selected from among them, The frequency test sound can be output from the hearing test air-conducting handset 2 or the hearing test bone-conducting handset.
By turning the test sound level variable dial 4b, the test sound level of the test sound output from the hearing test air-conducting handset 2 or the hearing test bone-conducting handset can be increased or decreased by 5 dB per click.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 5 draws a rectangular frame line 6a on a screen 6 having a horizontal axis of frequency [Hz] and a vertical axis of hearing level [dB]. A plurality of vertical lines 6b representing the magnitude of the frequency and a plurality of horizontal lines 6c representing the inspection sound level are drawn. Then, the audio level at each frequency is plotted on the vertical line 6b by the marker 6d on the screen 6, and an audiogram is created and displayed.
[0016]
The liquid crystal display 5 displays a date window 5a for displaying the examination date, a type window 5b for displaying the type of the hearing test, an ID number window 5c for displaying the ID number of the subject, and the frequency of the examination sound. The test sound frequency window 5d, the hearing level window 5e for displaying the hearing level, the test type window 5f for displaying the air conduction sound or the bone conduction sound and displaying the ear to be examined, and the subject presses the response switch 3. A response switch on / off display window 5g that is lit only when the vehicle is on is provided.
[0017]
When the response switch 3 is pressed, the background color of the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 that displays the audiogram changes. In the present embodiment, the background color of the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 is white when the response switch 3 is not pressed, and light gray when the response switch 3 is pressed. Therefore, the examiner can easily determine whether or not the subject is listening to the examination sound by the change in the background color of the screen 6.
[0018]
The procedure of the hearing test using the hearing test apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above will be described. In this hearing test, test sounds are first presented in the order of increasing frequency (1000 Hz → 2000 Hz → 4000 Hz → 8000 Hz) starting from 1000 Hz, and the hearing level at these frequencies is determined.
[0019]
Next, test sounds are presented in order of decreasing frequency (500 Hz → 250 Hz → 125 Hz), and the hearing level at these frequencies is determined. Here, only the air conduction pure sound hearing test will be described, and the bone conduction pure sound hearing test will be omitted because it conforms to the air conduction pure sound hearing test.
[0020]
First, the test subject is put on the hearing test air-conducting handset 2 so that the response switch 3 can be operated. The examiner selects the 1000 Hz frequency changeover switch 4a and turns the test sound level variable dial 4b to perform the test. The sound level is set to 40 dB, for example.
[0021]
Then, a test sound having a frequency of 1000 Hz and a test sound level of 40 dB is output from the hearing test handset 2 and a vertical line 6b representing a frequency of 1000 Hz on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 as shown in FIG. And a marker 6d represented by a circle is blinkingly displayed at the intersection of the horizontal line 6c representing the inspection sound level 40 dB. At the stage where the hearing level input switch 4c has not been pressed by the examiner and the hearing level of the subject has not been determined, the marker 6d is blinking.
[0022]
If the subject does not press the response switch 3 with respect to the inspection sound having the frequency of 1000 Hz and the inspection sound level of 40 dB, the inspection sound level is increased by turning the inspection sound level variable dial 4b. On the other hand, if the subject continues to press the response switch 3 in response to the inspection sound, the inspection sound level is lowered by turning the inspection sound level variable dial 4b.
[0023]
By repeating such an operation, the examiner determines the timing when the subject pushes the response switch 3 or releases the finger from the response switch 3 based on the change in the background color of the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the hearing level is When it is determined that it has been determined, the hearing level input switch 4c is pressed.
Then, the test sound level at that time is stored in the storage unit of the hearing test apparatus main body 1 as the hearing level of the subject at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
[0024]
Also, the blinking marker 6d becomes a lit marker 6d, and the audiogram of the audiogram is displayed on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 (intersection of the vertical line 6b representing the frequency 1000 Hz and the horizontal line 6c representing the inspection sound level at that time). Displayed as part.
[0025]
Next, the examiner selects the frequency changeover switch 4a of 2000 Hz, and turns the inspection sound level variable dial 4b to set the inspection sound level to 40 dB, for example. Then, a test sound having a frequency of 2000 Hz and a test sound level of 40 dB is output from the hearing test receiver 2, and a vertical line 6 b representing a frequency of 2000 Hz on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 and a horizontal line representing the test sound level of 40 dB. A marker 6d blinks at the intersection of 6c.
Then, in order to determine the hearing level of the subject at the frequency of 2000 Hz, the hearing test is performed in the same procedure as in the case of the frequency of 1000 Hz.
[0026]
In this way, when the hearing test at three types of frequencies from 1000 Hz to 4000 Hz is completed, the progress of the audiogram as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5. Here, the marker 6d located on each vertical line 6b representing the frequencies 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz is in a lit state because the respective hearing level is determined, and is located on the vertical line 6b representing the frequency 8000 Hz. The marker 6d is in a blinking state in order to instruct the examiner that it is an examination sound to be presented to the subject.
[0027]
Next, hearing levels at four frequencies of 8000 Hz, 500 Hz, 250 Hz, and 125 Hz are measured, and the hearing test for one ear (right ear or left ear) is completed. Similar tests are performed on the other ears, and an audiogram of the subject is created.
[0028]
If the background color of the screen 6 is changed according to the operation of the response switch 3 as in the hearing test apparatus according to the present invention, the audio line of the examiner is almost being created on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5. In the hearing test directed to the gram, the examiner can know whether or not the response switch 3 is pressed while keeping the line of sight toward the audiogram, and the number of times the examiner's line of sight moves is reduced.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the background color of the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 is gray when the response switch 3 is pressed, and the background color is white when the response switch 3 is not pressed. The reason for this is that the drawing program for changing the background color is relatively simple.
[0030]
However, if the operating state of the response switch 3 can be known in a state where the line of sight is directed to the audiogram being created on the screen 6 of the liquid crystal display unit 5 at the time of the hearing test, the number of movements of the examiner's line of sight is reduced Therefore, for example, other elements constituting the audiogram (marker 6d, frame line 6a drawn on the screen 6 in a square shape, a plurality of vertical lines 6b and horizontal lines 6c drawn on the screen 6) Etc.) (shape, pattern or color, or a combination thereof) can be considered.
[0031]
For example, the shape or color of the marker 6d may be different depending on whether the response switch 3 is pressed or not, and the color of the frame line 6a and the plurality of vertical lines 6b or horizontal lines 6c of the screen 6 may be used. May be different at the same time.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the form of the elements constituting the audiogram is changed between when the response switch is pressed and when the response switch is not pressed. The subject's response can be recognized almost without moving the line of sight with the line of sight directed at the audiogram being created above.
Therefore, since the number of line-of-sight movements can be reduced, the examiner's fatigue can be reduced.
[0033]
According to the invention according to claim 2, since the background color of the display screen on which the audiogram is created is changed by the operation of the response switch by the subject, the examiner can easily change the response state of the subject. Can be grasped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hearing test apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen at the start of a hearing test. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the middle of a hearing test. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional hearing test apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display screen of a conventional hearing test apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hearing test | inspection apparatus main body, 2 ... Hearing test handset, 3 ... Response switch, 4 ... Operation panel part, 4a ... Frequency switching switch, 4b ... Test sound level variable dial, 4c ... Hearing level input switch, 4d ... Inspection sound presentation lamp, 5 ... Liquid crystal display, 6 ... Screen of liquid crystal display, 6a ... Frame border, 6b ... Vertical line of screen, 6c ... Horizontal line of screen, 6d ... Marker.

Claims (2)

An audio test that presents the test sound to the subject based on the examiner's operation and performs the audio test while sequentially drawing the test results based on the output signal of the response switch operated by the subject as an audiogram In the apparatus, the form of the elements constituting the audiogram is changed according to whether the response switch is pressed or not. The hearing test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a form of an element constituting the audiogram is a background color of the display screen displaying the audiogram.

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