JPH0623504U - Impedance audiometer with simple hearing test function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Impedance audiometers are used for hearing and hearing loss tests in otolaryngology. Although this device can detect conductive hearing loss, it cannot test sensorineural hearing loss. The present invention aims to provide a single device that can be used for both impedance audiometry and audiometry. [Configuration] A sound pressure level adjuster is provided in the frequency generator that supplies low frequency power to the small speaker inside the ear canal insertion probe of the impedance audiometer, and the sound pressure level is variable with a fixed attenuation ratio, and preset measurement is performed. According to the program, a frequency is selected to gradually increase the sound pressure level, and a response switch is provided, and the frequency-audible minimum sound pressure level is displayed on the display unit by inputting the response switch.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an additional function of an impedance audiometer used for a hearing test for otolaryngology diagnosis.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Among the hearing test equipment used in the otolaryngology, the audiometer for checking the hearing loss and the impedance audiometer are widely used, but the test contents of both are different.

The audiometer is for inspecting conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss for the purpose of hearing function test. For the hearing of the human ear, pure sound (sine wave sound) of various frequencies and various sounds are detected. It is generated at a pressure level and diagnoses hearing loss based on the minimum audible sound pressure level.For a large number of people in a short time, such as for precision tests to be performed in a soundproof room, hearing tests for school children and regular health examinations. There is a simple type to do.

In the hearing test, a headphone-type receiver is attached to one ear or both ears, and a pure tone is heard for each ear to raise or lower the sound pressure level while the subject confirms the listening. There is also a device that operates the response switch to self-record the sound pressure level.

The impedance audiometer measures middle ear function by measuring tympanic membrane compliance, tympanic membrane acoustic impedance, and ossicular ossicular reflex, and evaluates transmission function from the tympanic membrane to the auditory nerve via the ossicle. This is to know the normality / abnormality of.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Impedance audiometers are mainly used for the evaluation of middle ear function, and it is not possible to distinguish the diagnosis of hearing loss. Therefore, if an abnormality is found in the impedance audiometer test, it is necessary to perform a hearing test.

Further, since the hearing test device and the impedance audiometer are separate devices, it is necessary for the examiner to carry out both tests.

In a mass examination, it is preferable to carry out an audiometry test together with impedance audiometry for a screening test for hearing loss, and it takes a long time to perform both tests with different testing devices for a large number of people. It will be.

The present invention provides a device capable of performing a quick hearing test for hearing loss in addition to a test for tympanometry and ossicle reflex with a single device, and capable of performing a quick test during a group test. It is a thing.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The impedance audiometer with a simple hearing test function of the present invention is an ear canal insertion probe and an air conduction handset for stimulation on the opposite side, which incorporates a small speaker for converting an oscillating signal from an audio frequency generator having a variable frequency oscillator into sound. Or both of them, or an impedance audiometer equipped with only the ear canal insertion probe, a sound pressure level adjuster is provided in the relevant audio frequency generation section, and has a function of performing simple hearing measurement manually or by a preset program. It is characterized by things.

The present invention also includes an impedance audiometer, which has a response switch and is provided with a sound pressure display section for displaying the minimum audible sound pressure level by the response switch.

[0012]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an impedance audiometer equipped with a simple hearing test function of the present invention is shown schematically in FIG.

In this device, an ear-hole insertion probe 1 for impedance audio geometry, an air conduction handset 2 and a grip type response switch 3 are additionally connected to a device body 5 by a cord.

On the front operation panel of the device main body 5, in addition to the setting switch of the setting unit 6 for impedance audio geometry and the display of the display unit 7, a frequency changeover switch 8 and a sound pressure level changeover switch 9, a hearing measurement start Is equipped with an operation switch 10 for switching a continuous tone to an intermittent tone to send a pure tone, and a switch 12 to switch between the probe 1 and the air conduction receiver 2 to transmit a pure tone. There is.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a system diagram of this device. It consists of a pneumatic system of the ear canal, which is required as an impedance audiometer, and an acoustic system that is also used for audiometry. The acoustic system consists of a system that transmits a predetermined pure sound to the ear canal and detects the reflected sound.

The pure tone transmission system includes a sound pressure level adjuster 14, a power amplifier 15, and a changeover switch 12 in which a variable frequency oscillator 13 is provided with an attenuator for adjusting the sound pressure level of a transmitted signal in the device body 5. The lead wire from the change-over switch 12 is connected to the small receiver 16 in the probe 1, and the pure sound of the small receiver 16 is connected to the probe 1 through the conduit 17 that opens at the tip of the probe 1. 1 is transmitted to the ear canal 18 of the person to be inserted.

The change-over switch 12 connected to the power amplifier 15 is also connected to the air conduction handset 2, and through the air conduction handset 2, sound can be transmitted from the opening of the ear canal 18.

Another pipe line 19 is provided at the tip of the probe 1 and is connected to a microphone 20 fixed inside the probe 1. The lead wire of the microphone 20 is a preamplifier 21 of the apparatus main body. , And is connected to the signal processor 22. An air pipe 23 is piped from the tip of the probe 1 to the inside of the main body of the device, and after branching, one pipe is connected to a pressure regulator 24 capable of pressurizing and depressurizing, and the other pipe is connected to the pressure detector 2 5 are connected respectively.

A control unit 26 having a built-in microcomputer is provided in the main body 5 of the present device, and the variable frequency oscillator 13 and the sound pressure level adjustment of the audio frequency generation unit 4 are adjusted according to the program input by the setting unit 6. The pressure regulator 24 is controlled, the pressure regulator 24 is controlled, the signals from the pressure detector 25 and the signal processor 22 are calculated, and the information is displayed on the display of the display unit 7.

An operation switch 10 is provided on the grip portion of the probe 1, and a main body operation switch 27 is provided on the front panel of the apparatus main body 5. The switches 10 and 27 are input to the control unit 26. , The input signal of the switches 10 and 27 switches from the impedance audiometer to the audiometer, and the control unit 26 selects the frequency of the variable frequency oscillator 13 according to the audiometry program and adjusts the sound pressure level adjuster 14 and A pure sound is transmitted from the probe 1 or the air conduction handset 2 to the ear canal 18.

The frequency of the variable frequency oscillator is, for example, four steps of sine wave 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, and the attenuator of the sound pressure level adjuster 14 is the tip of the probe 1 and the air conduction handset 2. For example, the sound pressure level in each section can be adjusted sequentially in a range of -20 to 100 dB at an attenuation ratio of 5 dB or continuously.

The hand-held response switch 3 is connected to the control unit 26, and the frequency and sound pressure level at the time of switch input are recorded in the control unit by the input of the response switch 3, and the display unit 7 displays the counter frequency. -Displayed as the minimum audible sound pressure level. In the use of this device, when impedance impedance is preceded, the tip of the probe 1 is lightly inserted into the ear canal 18 of the subject with the earplugs inserted, and a pure sound is produced at a specified constant sound pressure level. Is transmitted to the ear canal 18 and the acoustic impedance characteristic of the inner ear can be obtained from the reflected sound.

Next, in order to shift to the hearing measurement, if the examiner presses the operation switch 10 of the probe 1 with the tip of the probe 1 inserted into the ear canal 18 or the main body operation switch 27, The measurement is started.

The subject holds the response switch in hand, and the control unit 26 transmits the pure sound from the tip of the probe 1 to the ear canal 18 while adjusting the sound pressure level by selecting the frequency according to the setting program. When the subject presses the response switch when recognizing it as a sound, the control unit 26 changes the sound pressure level to the next set frequency according to the program and also adjusts the sound pressure level. Repeat the work for both left and right ears. The relationship between the frequency and the minimum audible maximum sound pressure level is displayed on the display unit.

When the subject is an infant, the probe 1 or air conduction receiver is used, and the examiner holds the response switch 3 in his / her hand and adjusts the frequency and the sound pressure level as described above, While the pressure level is increasing, read the audible response from the infant's gesture and facial expression, and press the response switch 3.

In the above embodiment, an example of computer control by programming is shown. However, in a simple device, the attenuator of the sound pressure level adjuster 14 is switched by the sound pressure level changeover switch 9. However, it is possible to use both an impedance audiometer and an audiometer.

The air conduction handset 2 and the response switch 3 are omitted as appropriate.

[0028]

[Effect of device]

 Since the impedance audiometer of the present invention has a simple audiometric test function, the impedance audiometer and audiometric test can be performed easily and in a short time with this single device.

In the case of a group examination for a large number of people and an infant examination, it is possible to make a tentative determination of the degree of deafness and the kind at the place of the examination, which can contribute to the efficiency of the group examination.

In an audiometric test using an ear canal insertion probe, the influence of external noise can be reduced by sealing the external auditory meatus, and diagnosis can be performed easily and accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an impedance audiometer having a simple hearing test function.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of an impedance audiometer having a simple hearing test function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ear-hole insertion probe 2 Air conduction receiver 3 Response switch 4 Audio frequency generator 5 Device body 6 Setting part 7 Display part 8 Frequency changeover switch 9 Sound pressure level changeover switch 10 Operation switch 11 Intermittent switch 12 Changeover switch 13 Audiofrequency oscillator 14 Sound Pressure level regulator 15 Power amplifier 16 Small receiver 17 Channel 18 Ear canal 19 Other channel 20 Microphone 21 Preamplifier 22 Signal processor 23 Air tube 24 Pressure regulator 25 Pressure detector 26 Control section 27 Main operation switch

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An apparatus main body provided with an audio frequency generator having a variable frequency oscillator, an ear canal insertion probe and an air conduction handset for stimulation on the opposite side, which incorporates a speaker for converting an electric signal oscillated by the audio frequency generator into sound. In the impedance audiometer consisting of both of the above or only the ear canal insertion probe, the audio frequency generating section is provided with a sound pressure level adjuster, and an operation switch for starting and stopping the oscillation signal is provided. Impedance audiometer with inspection function. 2. A response switch is provided in the main body of the apparatus and / or the probe and / or independently, and a display section for displaying at least a frequency and a minimum audible sound pressure level by the input of the switch is provided in the main body of the apparatus. The impedance audiometer according to claim 1. 3. A main body of the apparatus is provided with a microcomputer for controlling at least an audio frequency generating unit, frequency and sound pressure level are variably adjusted by a preset program, and automatically adjusted by a preset program. The impedance audiometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frequency and the minimum audible sound pressure level are displayed on the display unit. 4. The impedance audiometer according to claim 1, wherein a switching circuit for manually or intermittently oscillating the oscillation signal is provided in the audio frequency generator.