RU2748409C1 - Method of express diagnostics of hearing level - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the area of medicine, namely to otorhinolaryngology. The invention can be used for express diagnostics of hearing for the purposes of early detection of hearing impairment. A set of test words is used, selected according to the "speech banana" method, recorded in a whisper onto the memory of the apparatus for express diagnostics of hearing in mp3 format. The apparatus is placed at a distance of 6 meters from the patient. Words are replayed at frequencies of: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 Hz. The subject repeats the heard word. The doctor analyses the words spoken by the subject, if the patient repeated them correctly, the hearing is normal. If the subject has made a mistake or did not hear the words, the person is sent for further examination on an audiometer to exclude possible hearing impairment.

EFFECT: described method allows to conserve time of a medical appointment for a hearing test by 15%, accuracy of diagnostics increases by 45%.

5 cl

Description

The invention relates to medicine, namely to otorhinolaryngology, and is intended for express diagnostics of hearing in order to detect early hearing disorders.

The closest analogue of the proposed technical solution is a method for diagnosing the level of hearing, which consists in checking the hearing using V. Voyachek's speech table, recorded in the memory of a digital device in an audio format mp3. After the patient repeats the words, the percentage of correctly repeated words from the total number of words in the table is determined using the keyboard of the device to register the patient's response at sound signal volumes of 10, 20 and 30% of the maximum power of the headphones, respectively, and then a decrease in the percentage of speech intelligibility is detected [1].

The disadvantage of this method is the complexity of calculating the volume levels corresponding to 10, 20 and 30% of the maximum power of the headphones, since different headphones, like different mobile phones, have different sound power characteristics during playback. In addition, the disadvantage is the high cost of the process, because if you use one digital device, you need to purchase a large number of sets of disposable headphones for it (since headphones cannot be sterilized) in order to avoid transmission of an external ear infection among patients. Also, in V. Voyachek's speech tables there is no clear division of words by frequency, basically the words are selected so that they affect only low and medium frequencies, and when checking it is possible to miss the patient's hearing loss if it started from high frequencies. In addition, when using this method, there is a significant amount of time spent analyzing the feedback to calculate the percent speech intelligibility.

The task to be solved by the claimed invention, ease of use, reduction of financial costs for diagnostics of hearing loss, increase in the speed of hearing testing (express diagnostics), accuracy of diagnosis, due to the clarity of the recorded words in the apparatus (absence of speech defects; fixed volume of whispering speech) ...

This task is achieved due to the fact that a set of test words selected according to the "speech banana" technique is reproduced, an apparatus is used with words recorded in a whisper in its memory in an audio format mp3 and, based on the patient's correct repetition of words, the presence of a decrease in speech intelligibility is revealed, which is used to judge about possible hearing loss and referred for further examination on an audiometer to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment; or the absence of a decrease in speech intelligibility, by which it is judged that the hearing is normal. Words are reproduced at a fixed volume of 40 dB, at the following frequencies: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 Hz. The distance from the apparatus to the subject is 6 meters. 3 variants of a set of test words are used to exclude their memorization The “speech banana” technique is that the sounds necessary for spoken language are perceived by a person at certain frequencies. Words are selected that contain sounds of a certain frequency. If a person cannot reproduce or does not correctly reproduce the heard word, then he does not perceive sounds at this frequency. This indicates hearing loss. A person with normal hearing perceives sounds at all of the listed frequencies, so they can reproduce all the words they hear without errors.

The technical result from the use of the claimed method consists in a quick, simple, accurate, inexpensive detection of hearing loss in the early stages, which makes it possible to start treatment in a timely manner and prevent further progression of hearing loss and disability of the population.

The claimed technical solution was tested in the ENT-cabinet BUZ UR "GKB No. 2 MZ UR" in Izhevsk. We examined 53 patients aged 19 to 76, including 22 men and 31 women. The patients underwent otoscopy, sulfur plugs were removed, acute diseases of the outer and middle ear were excluded.

With the help of the device for express diagnostics of hearing, a set of test words was reproduced, selected according to the “speech banana” technique, recorded in a whisper, with a volume of 40 dB at the following frequencies: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000. The device was located from patient at a distance of 6 meters. The patient repeated the words he heard. The doctor analyzed the words spoken by the subject. In case of an error in the repetition of words or in case of unheard words, the patients were sent for further examination on an audiometer - tone audiometry.

As a result of the study, in 29 people using this method, hearing loss was revealed: 10 people - hearing loss at high frequencies; 15 people - hearing loss at high and medium frequencies; 4 people - hearing loss at high, medium and low frequencies. These patients underwent an audiometric study. Based on the results of tone audiometry, the diagnosis of hearing loss was confirmed in 28 cases.

It was found that the use of this method led to a 15% time savings for the doctor at the hearing test; the diagnostic accuracy increased by 45% (patients with grade 1–2 hearing loss were identified).

Information sources:

1. RF patent No. 2467691. Method for diagnosing the level of hearing. Kolokolov O.V., Nazarochkin Yu.V., Pashkov A.V. IPC A61V 5/16. Application No. 2011121086/14. Publ. 11/27/2012.

Claims (5)

1. A method for diagnosing hearing, characterized by the fact that a set of test words selected according to the “speech banana” technique is reproduced, an apparatus is used with words written in a whisper in its memory in an audio format mp3, and on the basis of the patient’s correct repetition of words, the presence of a decrease in speech intelligibility is revealed. who is judged about a possible hearing loss and is sent for further examination on an audiometer to confirm the diagnosis and prescription of treatment, or the absence of a decrease in speech intelligibility, by which it is judged that the hearing is normal. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the words are reproduced at a fixed loudness of 40 dB. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the words are reproduced at the following frequencies: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 Hz. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance from the apparatus to the subject is 6 meters. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that 3 variants of a set of test words are used to exclude their memorization.