JPH0795695A - Hearing effect measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a hearing effect measuring instrument capable of easily and accurately measuring whether or not a hearing aid is fitted optimally in a patient. CONSTITUTION:This hearing effect measuring instrument is formed in size to enclose the whole concha 14 on which the hearing aid is loaded, and is constituted of a sound insulating cup 20 whose one terminal is opened, and a signal generating source provided in the inside of the sound insulating cup 20 and which outputs an inspection sound, and the sound insulating cup 20 is formed in a circular cup type, and a sound absorbing material 25 is spread all over the internal wall part, and also, a cushioning material 27 is mounted on an opening edge part. The concha 14 on which the hearing aid 11 is loaded is formed so as to be completely enclosed with the cushioning material 27, and right and left ears are covered with sound insulating cups, respectively, and inspection is performed by supplying an inspection sound to the ear on the side where the hearing aid is loaded. When the hearing aids are loaded on both ears, the ear on the other side is inspected similarly. Consequently, it is possible to decide whether or not the hearing aid is fitted optimally in the patient based on a characteristic chart.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing aid effect measuring device capable of easily and accurately measuring whether or not a hearing aid is fitting to a patient.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to select a hearing aid suitable for a patient, an audiometer is used first, a sound is given to each ear of the patient by an earphone, and the minimum audible value is plotted while changing the frequency and the sound pressure level. The hearing level of the patient is measured. FIG. 7 shows a characteristic diagram in which a patient is specifically measured. In the case of so-called presbycusis, in which the hearing loss abruptly appears at a high frequency of 1 KHz or more, as shown by the characteristic line marked with X in FIG. 7 (a), as shown in FIG. 7 (b). In addition, a hearing aid with a large gain at high frequencies above 1 KHz is selected. The hearing aid selected in this way is worn on the patient, and the wearing effect is measured. If the characteristic of wearing the hearing aid is substantially flat as shown by the characteristic line with a circle in FIG. 7A, it can be said that the hearing aid is optimally fitted to the patient.

FIG. 8 shows a characteristic diagram of another patient similarly measured. Even in this case, FIG.
When hearing loss that gradually decreases from about 250 Hz to a high frequency appears as shown by the characteristic line marked with X in (a), as shown in FIG. 8B, the frequency gradually increases to 250 Hz or higher. A hearing aid is selected that has a large gain. The wearing effect of the hearing aid selected in this way is measured. If the characteristic of wearing the hearing aid is substantially flat as shown by the characteristic line with a circle in FIG. 8A, it can be said that the hearing aid is optimally fitted to the patient.

Conventionally, a hearing aid effect measuring apparatus for measuring the wearing effect of such a hearing aid, as shown in FIG. 6, is a soundproof room (anechoic chamber) in which noise from the outside does not enter and the sound inside does not reflect. The patient 10 wearing the hearing aid 11 enters the free field sound field 12 provided with the device, and the sound is given from the signal generation source 13 such as a speaker and measured by the audiometer.

[0005]

The conventional hearing aid effect measuring device using the free field sound field 12 is large in size and extremely expensive, and therefore, it is used in about 60% of university hospitals and general hospitals. Currently, only about 20% is used, and it is rarely used in private clinics. In addition, the number of hearing aid users is also increasing with the increase of the aging population, so that it is insufficient to judge whether or not the hearing aid 11 fitted is perfectly fitted to the patient 10 and to observe after a long period of time. There was a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid effect measuring device capable of easily and accurately measuring whether or not the hearing aid fits the patient.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a sound insulating cup 20 having a size that surrounds the entire auricle 14 with the hearing aid 11 mounted and one end of which is open, and an inspection sound provided inside the sound insulating cup 20 are provided. The sound insulation cup 20 is composed of a signal source 13 for outputting, is a circular cup type, and is a hearing aid effect measuring device in which a sound absorbing material 25 is spread on the inner wall portion and a cushion material 27 is attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening. .

[0008]

First, the hearing level of the patient is measured, and the hearing aid 11 that fits the patient's ear is selected and attached to the left or right ear. When the hearing aid 11 is of the canal type, the microphone 34 of the hearing aid 11 and the signal generation source 13 face each other, and the cushion material 27 at the inner peripheral edge of the sound insulation cup 20 completely surrounds the auricle 14. And cover it. When the hearing aid 11 is of the ear-hook type, the microphone 34 and the auricle 14 of the hearing aid 11 are covered so as to be completely surrounded by the cushion material 27 at the inner peripheral edge portion of the sound insulation cup 20. The left ear is covered with the left ear sound insulation cup body 32, and the right ear is covered with the right ear sound insulation cup body 33 to give an inspection sound to one ear on the inspection side, and the minimum audibility while changing the frequency and the sound pressure level. Plot the values. When the hearing aids 11 are attached to both ears, after the inspection of one ear is completed, the other ear is similarly inspected. As a result, it is determined whether the hearing aid is optimally fitting the patient.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 20 is a sound insulation cup. This sound insulation cup 20
Does not press the auricle 14 of the patient 10 wearing the hearing aid 11, but rather has a size such that it has a space between it and a signal generation source 13 described later, and has a diameter of 10 to 10, for example.
It is a circular cup type having an opening of 13 cm and a depth of about 5 to 7 cm. The sound insulation cup 20 is made of plastic, metal plate or the like having a predetermined thickness so that external sound is not conducted. Inside the sound insulation cup 20, a signal generation source 13 such as a speaker is supported by a mounting ring 29 and a mounting bracket 28, and is fixed to the sound insulation cup 20 by a fixing screw 21. The lead wire 22 of the signal generating source 13 is connected to an audiometer (not shown) or the like via a connector 23 and an external conducting wire 24. Also,
The front surface of the signal generation source 13 is protected by a protection net 26. The signal source 13 is small and has a frequency characteristic that is as flat as possible from low to high tones, specifically, the characteristics of the hearing aid 11 are at most 250 to 4.
Since it is about 000 Hz, it is used that has a frequency characteristic of at least more than that, has a maximum sound pressure of about 120 dB, and has a sound directivity of about 30 to 60 degrees.

Around the entire opening end of the sound insulation cup 20,
A cushioning material 2 in which a soft sponge that adheres to the skin is wrapped with a vinyl film or the like so that external sound does not infiltrate or leak to the outside when it is attached to the patient 10.
7 is provided. Further, a sound absorbing material 25 such as sponge for preventing reflected sound is spread on the inner wall portion of the sound insulating cup 20 except for the front surface portion of the signal generating source 13 without any gap. The sound insulation cup body 32 for the left ear and the sound insulation cup body 33 for the right ear configured as described above are connected to each other by a head band 30 made of a spring plate so as to be expandable and contractible. It is desirable that the left ear sound insulation cup body 32 is blue and the right ear sound insulation cup body 33 is red in order not to make a mistake for the left ear and the right ear.

Next, a method of measuring the wearing effect of the hearing aid using this device will be described. As mentioned above, first,
The hearing level of the patient's bare ear is measured, and the hearing aid 11 that suits the left or right ear of the patient who needs hearing aid is selected,
Or in the case of both ears, the hearing aid 11 suitable for each ear
Is selected and the hearing aid 11 is worn on the ear. Usually, only one ear is often used. Earplug 16 of the hearing aid 11
Is inserted into the external auditory meatus 15 and the hearing aid main body 17 is attached to the auricle 14 at a substantially central portion, so-called canal type, as shown in FIG. 1, the microphone 34 and the signal source 13 of the hearing aid 11 are connected. And the cushion material 27 on the inner peripheral edge portion of the sound insulating cup 20 completely surrounds the auricle 14 and covers it. Further, the earplug 16 of the hearing aid 11 is inserted into the external auditory meatus 15, the hearing aid main body 17 is attached to the outside of the auricle 14 by a hanger 18, and the earplug 16 and the hanger 18 are communicated with each other by a conduit 19, which is a so-called ear hook type. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the microphone 34 and the auricle 14 of the hearing aid 11 are covered so as to be completely surrounded by the cushion material 27 at the inner peripheral edge portion of the sound insulation cup 20.

In this way, the hearing aid 11 is attached to either the left or right ear that requires hearing aid, and as shown in FIG. 3, the left ear sound insulation cup body 32 and the right ear sound insulation cup body 33 are covered. A test sound is given to the ear on which the hearing aid 11 is worn, and the minimum audible value is plotted while changing the frequency and sound pressure level. The characteristic diagram is obtained and the hearing aid effect is measured to determine if the hearing aid is optimally fitting the patient.

In the case of the ear-hook type hearing aid 11 shown in FIG. 4, the sound from the signal source 13 is only sent to the microphone 34 unless the earplug 16 inserted into the external auditory meatus 15 is in complete contact. Not the ear canal 15 and ear plugs 16
It goes around to the earplug 16 through the gap, and enters the inside of the hearing aid main body 17 through the conduit 19 and the hanger 18. Therefore, howling occurs especially in the low-pitched sound area, making the inspection impossible. In such a case, only when the inspection is performed, as shown in FIG.
It is desirable that the earplugs 16 be attached to the external auditory meatus 15 in close contact with the sound insulating putty 31 so that the earplugs 16 do not enter.

[0014]

Since the present invention is configured as described above,
The device is simple and extremely inexpensive, and can be installed not only in large hospitals but also in individual clinics. Therefore, it is possible to judge whether or not the hearing aid 11 fitted is perfectly fitted to the patient 10 and observe after a long period of time. Data can be obtained immediately on the spot, and the frequency characteristic of the hearing aid can be easily and sufficiently adjusted with the hearing aid 11 still attached.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a hearing aid effect measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the side surface of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the hearing aid effect measuring device according to the present invention is attached to a patient 10.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the hearing aid effect measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another usage example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a free field sound field 12 showing a conventional hearing aid effect measuring apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first example of a hearing loss characteristic line of a patient, a characteristic line of a hearing aid effect measurement, and a frequency characteristic line of a hearing aid.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second example of a hearing loss characteristic line of a patient, a characteristic diagram for measuring a hearing aid effect, and a frequency characteristic diagram of a hearing aid.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Patient, 11 ... Hearing aid, 12 ... Free field sound field, 13 ... Signal generator, 14 ... Auricle, 15 ... External ear canal, 1
6 ... earplugs, 17 ... hearing aid body, 18 ... hangers, 19 ...
Conduit, 20 ... Sound insulation cup, 21 ... Fixing screw, 22 ... Lead wire, 23 ... Connector, 24 ... External lead wire, 25 ... Sound absorbing material, 26 ... Defense net, 27 ... Cushion material, 28 ... Mounting bracket, 29 ... Mounting ring , 30 ... Head band, 3
1 ... Sound insulation putty, 32 ... Sound insulation cup body for left ear, 33 ... Sound insulation cup body for right ear, 34 ... Microphone.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sound insulation cup 20 having a size that surrounds the entire auricle 14 with the hearing aid 11 and one end opened, and a signal generation source 13 that is provided inside the sound insulation cup 20 and outputs an inspection sound. A hearing aid effect measuring device characterized by: 2. The sound insulation cup 20 has a circular cup shape, and the sound absorbing material 25 is spread on the inner wall portion thereof.
The hearing aid effect measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cushion material 27 is attached to the peripheral edge of the opening.