TW201737861A - Method and device of pure-tone audiometry - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of pure-tone audiometry is disclosed, which is used to measure the hearing capability of a test person. The method includes the following steps: offering a first test stimulus to the test person, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency and a first volume, and the first test stimulus is selected from one of N test tones, wherein the N is integer, and 2 ≤ N ≤ 5, wherein the m<SP>th</SP> test tone of the N test tones is m short tones, 1 ≤ m ≤ N; and receiving a response corresponding to the first test stimulus. The present invention also discloses a device of pure-tone audiometry.

Description

Pure tone hearing detection method and detection device

The invention relates to a hearing detection method and a detection device, in particular to a pure tone hearing detection method and a detection device.

The test method used to assess whether hearing is impaired is Pure-Tone audiometry. In general, the tester can control the hearing detection device to produce test sounds of different intensities (volumes) and/or different frequencies, which can also be called test stimuli. In the pure tone hearing test, the tester provides a specific frequency and specific intensity test sound, such as a test sound of 500 Hz and 40 dB, in a quiet environment. Then, if the tester hears the test sound, then You can raise your hand or button to indicate that you hear the test sound.

Then, the tester repeatedly provides test sounds of different strengths (volumes) and/or different frequencies, and passes the tester's response to obtain the tester's pure-tone threshold and pure tone audiogram, which can be evaluated. The hearing condition of the tester. Among them, the pure tone hearing threshold refers to the minimum intensity (volume) that the tester can hear at each frequency.

However, since the tester must repeatedly listen to test sounds of different intensities and frequencies, and the test sounds are all the same (for example, a single long sound), there may be an auditory hallucination or a poor concentration of the tester. , and thus the detection results have errors. At present, the intensity of the test sound can be adjusted repeatedly by the tester's experience and ability to reduce the error value.

At present, although the US Patent No. 20140236043 proposes that the test sound can be one long sound or a plurality of continuous short sounds, thereby reducing the detection error. However, in the process of repeated test by the tester, there may also be multiple auditory situations in which a short short tone is heard as a long sound, and there is still room for improvement.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for detecting pure tone hearing by providing one of N test tones as test stimuli, wherein N is an integer and the mth test tone of the N test tones is m short sounds, so by increasing the type of test stimulus to reduce the error of the tester due to auditory hallucinations.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for detecting pure tone hearing for testing by a tester, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first test stimulus to a tester, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency And a first intensity, and the first test stimulus is selected from one of N test tones, wherein N is an integer and 2≦N≦5, wherein the mth test tone of the N test tones is m a short tone, and 1 ≦ m ≦ N; and receiving a response corresponding to the first test stimulus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a pure tone hearing detecting device for a tester to perform detection. The detecting device comprises a sound playing module and a determining module. The sound playing module provides a first test stimulus to the tester, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency and a first intensity, and the first test stimulus is selected from one of the N test tones. Where N is an integer and 2≦N≦5, wherein the mth test tone of the N test tones is m short tones, and 1≦m≦N. The determination module receives a response corresponding to the first test stimulus.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting method further comprises the step of: determining a response, wherein when the response is correct, providing a second test stimulus, the second test stimulus having a second frequency, or the second test stimulus having a first frequency and a second intensity, the second intensity being less than the first intensity; and providing a third test stimulus when the response is an error, the third test stimulus having a third frequency, or the third test stimulus having a first frequency And a third intensity, the third intensity being greater than the first intensity.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the determining module determines the response, wherein: when the response is correct, providing a second test stimulus, the second test stimulus has a second frequency, or the second test stimulus has a first frequency and a second intensity, the second intensity being less than the first intensity; and providing a third test stimulus when the response is an error, the third test stimulus having a third frequency, or the third test stimulus having a first frequency and a third Intensity, the third intensity is greater than the first intensity. In an embodiment of the invention, the second frequency is different from the first frequency, and the third frequency is different from the first frequency.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting method further comprises the steps of: providing an input interface to receive a response corresponding to the first test stimulus, the input interface having N+1 input patterns.

In an embodiment of the invention, the detecting device further includes an input interface for receiving a response corresponding to the first test stimulus, the input interface having N+1 input patterns.

In an embodiment of the invention, N is 3.

According to the present invention, a pure tone hearing detection method and detection apparatus according to the present invention provides a different type of (first) test stimulus to a tester, such as different types of test tones, that is, different numbers of short tones, In order to reduce the error of the tester due to auditory hallucinations, the pure tone hearing detection is more accurate. Moreover, if the tester can actually hear the test tone, the number of short sounds can be clearly distinguished. Compared with the prior art, the test stimulus is a long sound or a plurality of continuous short sounds, which can reduce the auditor's auditory hallucination or guessing. The resulting detection error occurs.

In order to enable the reviewing committee to better understand the technical contents of the present invention, the preferred embodiments are described below.

1 is an implementation environment diagram of an embodiment of a pure tone hearing detecting device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Firstly, the detecting device 1 of the embodiment is used for providing a tester to perform pure tone hearing detection, and the detecting device 1 can be a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or other computing processing function and can output an audio signal. The electronic device is not limited by this invention.

Specifically, the detecting device 1 has a sound playing module 10 for providing a test sound to the user for a pure tone hearing test, and the sound playing module 10 can be a player in the form of a general speaker or a player in the form of a earphone. The invention is not limited. In addition, the detecting device 1 also has an input interface 20, which can be a physical button, or can display a virtual button on a touch display screen, so that the tester can answer the test content through the input interface 20, which is used in this embodiment. The touch display screen displays virtual buttons as an example, and other details are further described later.

Of course, the detecting device 1 of the embodiment further includes a processor 30 and a memory 40. The processor 30 is coupled to the sound playing module 10, the input interface 20 and the memory 40. The memory 40 stores a pure tone hearing detection program. It includes a detection method as shown in FIG. 2, and the pure tone hearing detection process is executed by the processor 30. Specifically, when the processor 30 executes the pure tone hearing detection program, the operation is performed by an input interface providing module 31, a sounding module 32, and a determining module 33, and the modules can perform the detection shown in FIG. method.

Next, please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method for detecting pure tone hearing according to the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 together to understand the present invention.

Step S10: providing an input interface.

The input interface providing module 31 can provide an operation interface having virtual keys and display it on the screen of the detecting device 10 to form the input interface 20 of the present embodiment.

Step S11: providing a first test stimulus (test stimuli) to the tester, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency and a first intensity.

The test stimulus of the present embodiment is a test sound provided to the tester for the hearing test. The present embodiment provides the test sound by the sound playing module 10 to detect whether the tester can hear the test sound. Certainly, the embodiment does not limit the type of the sound playing module 10. For example, the sound playing module 10 can be a speaker or an earphone. When the sound playing module 10 is an earphone, the left ear and the right ear of the tester can be further detected separately. Hearing sensitivity. In addition, it should be particularly noted that the terms “first, second, third” in the present embodiment are merely used for clarifying the description, for example, the first test stimulus, the second test stimulus, and the third test. Stimulation, which is essentially a test stimulus.

In the present embodiment, the test stimulus (including the first test stimulus, the second test stimulus, and the third test stimulus) is selected from one of N test tones, wherein N is an integer and 2≦N≦5, wherein The mth test tone of the N test tones is m short tones, and 1≦m≦N. Specifically, when N is 2, the test stimulus can be one of two test tones, wherein the first test tone is 1 short tone and the second test tone is 2 short tones. In other words, when N is 2, the test stimulus is selected from one of a short tone and two short tones. Similarly, when N is 3, the test stimulus is selected from one of 1 short tone, 2 short tone, and 3 short tones; when N is 4, the test stimulus is selected from 1 short tone, One of two short tones, three short tones, and four short tones; when N is 5, the test stimulus is selected from one short tone, two short tones, three short tones, and four short tones. And one of five short tones.

The detection method and the detecting device of the pure tone hearing of the embodiment are performed by increasing the type of the test stimulus, for example, a different number of short sounds, so as to reduce the error of the tester due to the occurrence of auditory hallucinations, thereby further improving the pure tone hearing detection. For accuracy, regardless of whether N is 2, 3, 4 or 5, the type of test stimulus can be increased to reduce the error. Preferably, N can be 3, and the following examples and drawings all have N of 3. The test stimulus is selected from one of short sounds, two short sounds, and three short sounds.

The input interface 20 provided in this embodiment is based on the content of the test stimulus to receive a response corresponding to the first test stimulus, as shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is the input interface shown in FIG. A schematic of an embodiment. In this embodiment, the input interface 30 has N+1 input patterns, wherein the N input patterns respectively correspond to N test tones, and the other input pattern is when the tester cannot hear the input patterns. In response to an unheardable situation. Specifically, the four input patterns 21, 22, 23, and 24 shown in FIG. 3 respectively indicate that the test sounds are not heard, and three test sounds (one short sound, two short sounds, and three short sounds, respectively). sound).

In this embodiment, the sound module 32 is controlled by the sound module 32 to play different types of test sounds. In this embodiment, 1, 2, or 3 short sounds are used. In addition, the sound module 32 can control the output. The frequency and intensity of the test tone, and thus the tester's hearing sensitivity to each frequency, that is, the minimum intensity (volume) that the tester can hear at each frequency, and thus the pure-tone threshold of the frequency can be obtained. And pure tone audiograms. In general, the commonly used test frequencies for pure tone hearing detection are 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz, and are detected at an intensity between -10 and 110 dB, respectively, that is, the test intensity range can be between Between -10 and 110 decibels, of course, the invention does not limit the range of test strengths.

In other words, the sound module 32 controls the sound playing module 10 to provide a first test stimulus having a first frequency and a first intensity. The first frequency is preferably one of the test frequencies. The embodiment is described by taking 250 Hz as an example, that is, the tester's hearing sensitivity to the first frequency (250 Hz) is first detected. The first intensity is preferably between -10 and 110 decibels. In this embodiment, the intermediate value, 50 decibels, is taken as an example. In step S11, the sound module 32 controls the sound playing module 10 to provide different types of test stimuli such as one short sound, two short sounds, or three short sounds, wherein the short sounds are 250. Hertz, 50 decibels.

Step S12: The determining module 33 receives a response corresponding to the first test stimulus.

Specifically, after the first test stimulus is provided, the sound playing module 10 can respond to the heard content by operating the input interface 20 within a predetermined time. For example, if the tester hears a short tone, the content of the test stimulus that is heard is responded to by clicking on the input pattern 22 shown in FIG. Of course, if the tester does not hear any sound, he can click on the input pattern 21 that the representative cannot hear.

Step S13: It is judged whether the response is correct.

The judging module 33 further judges whether the received response is correct. When the response is correct, it indicates that the tester can hear the test tone of 250 Hz and 40 decibels, and proceeds to steps S14 to S16. When the response is an error, it means that the tester cannot hear the test sound of 250 Hz and 40 decibels, and proceeds to steps S17 to S19.

Step S14: providing a second test stimulus having a first frequency and a second intensity that is less intense.

The sound module 32 can control the sound playing module 10 to provide a second test stimulus, which is also selected from one of a short tone, two short tones, or three short tones, and has the same as the first test stimulus. The first frequency (250 Hz) and the second intensity of the lower intensity. For example, the second intensity can be 30 decibels, which is 20 decibels less than the first intensity (50 decibels).

Step S15: receiving a response corresponding to the second test stimulus.

The tester also responds to the content of the test stimulus he has heard by operating the input interface 20 for a predetermined time, and the decision module 33 receives a response corresponding to the second test stimulus.

Step S16: Determine whether the response is correct.

The judging module 33 judges whether the response received in step S15 is correct. In step S14 to S16, it is detected whether the tester can hear the test sound after the decibel is lowered by 20 decibels, so other details can refer to steps S11 to S13. When the judging module 33 judges that the response is correct, it indicates that the tester can also hear the test tone of 250 Hz and 30 decibels. Therefore, returning to step S14, another test stimulus of the same frequency but less intensity is provided, for example, 250. Hertz, 10 dB test tone. It should be noted that the intensity described in step S14 is smaller, which means that the intensity of the test tone provided earlier is smaller. Steps S14 through S16 may be repeated until the minimum intensity of the test intensity range (between -10 and 110 decibels) is detected, which is -10 decibels in this embodiment, thereby assessing the tester's hearing sensitivity for 250 Hz. Of course, test stimuli of the same frequency and the same intensity may be repeated multiple times, for example three times, and the invention is not limited.

In addition, when the judging module 33 judges that the response is an error, indicating that the tester has been unable to hear the test sound of the decibel, all the responses can be integrated, and the process proceeds to step S20, which will be described later.

Step S17: providing a third test stimulus having a first frequency and a third intensity having a greater intensity.

Similarly, the sound module 32 can control the sound playing module 10 to provide a third test stimulus selected from one of a short tone, two short tones, or three short tones, and has the first test. Stimulate the same first frequency (250 Hz) and a stronger third intensity. For example, the third intensity can be 70 decibels, which is 20 decibels above the first intensity (50 decibels).

Step S18: Receive a response corresponding to the third test stimulus.

A response corresponding to the third test stimulus is received by the decision module 33.

Step S19: Determine whether the response is correct.

The judging module 33 further determines whether the response received in step S18 is correct. If the response is an error, steps S17 to S19 may be repeated until the maximum intensity of the test intensity range is detected, which is 110 decibels in this embodiment. In addition, if the response is correct, it means that the tester can hear the test sound of the decibel, and can directly proceed to step S20. The steps S17 to S19 are used to detect whether the tester can hear the test tone after the increase of the intensity. For other details, refer to steps S11 to S13, and no further details are provided herein.

Step S20: Calculate a hearing threshold for obtaining the first frequency according to the result of the response.

The determining module 33 can calculate a hearing threshold for obtaining the first frequency according to the result or the correct rate of the above response, for example, according to the lowest test intensity that can be heard, for example, the test stimulus corresponding to 250 Hz, 10 dB. The response is correct, and the response to the test stimulus corresponding to 250 Hz, 0 dB is an error. At this time, the tester's hearing threshold at 250 Hz is 10 dB.

Of course, the same frequency and intensity can be repeated multiple times, then the correct rate of all responses is integrated, and the hearing threshold for obtaining the test frequency is calculated, and the calculation of the number of repetitions, the mode and the hearing threshold of the test stimulus is the technical field. It is well known to those of ordinary knowledge, and will not be repeated here.

As mentioned above, the first frequency can be one of the test frequencies (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz), in other words, through the repeated operation of the pure tone hearing detection method shown in FIG. 2, The tester's hearing threshold was obtained for each of the other test frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz). After obtaining the hearing threshold of each test frequency, the determination module 32 can further generate a pure tone audiogram, as shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a pure tone audiogram obtained according to the detection method shown in FIG. 2. Wherein, the abscissa of FIG. 4 is the respective test frequency (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz), and the ordinate is the tester's hearing threshold for the test frequency. The sound playing module 10 of the embodiment is of the earphone type, so that the hearing thresholds of the left ear and the right ear of the tester at different test frequencies can be respectively detected, for example, in the test sound of 250 Hz, the tester's right ear. You can hear more than 70 decibels, and the left ear can hear more than 40 decibels.

In addition, it should be noted that the first intensity of the embodiment is described by taking the intermediate value (50 dB) of the test intensity range as an example. If the response is determined to be correct in step S13, the step S14 to S16 are decreased. If it is judged that the response is an error, the strength is increased to continue steps S17 to S19. In other embodiments, the first intensity may also be the maximum value of the test intensity range (110 decibels). If the response is determined to be correct in step S13, the second test stimulus of lower intensity is also provided to continue the steps S14 to S16; Judging that the response is an error, in addition to directly calculating the hearing threshold of the first frequency, the third test stimulus may be further provided, and the third test has a third frequency, and the third frequency is also one of the above test frequencies. It only needs to be different from the first frequency, such as 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz.

Similarly, the first intensity can also be the minimum of the test intensity range (-10 dB). If the response is determined to be correct in step S13, in addition to calculating the hearing threshold of the first frequency, the second test stimulus may be further provided, and the second test has a second frequency, and the second frequency is also the test frequency. One of them only needs to be different from the first frequency, for example, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz; and if the response is judged to be an error, the third test stimulus continuation steps S17 to S19 are provided with greater intensity.

In summary, the method and apparatus for detecting pure tone hearing according to the present invention provide different types of (first) test stimuli to the tester, such as different types of test tones, that is, different numbers of short tones. In order to reduce the error of the tester due to auditory hallucinations, the pure tone hearing detection is more accurate. Moreover, if the tester can actually hear the test tone, the number of short sounds can be clearly distinguished. Compared with the prior art, the test stimulus is a long sound or a plurality of continuous short sounds, which can reduce the auditor's auditory hallucination or guessing. The resulting detection error occurs.

It is to be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all possible combinations of variations are not described in detail to avoid redundancy. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various modules or components described above are not necessarily required. In order to implement the invention, other well-known modules or elements of more detail may also be included. Each module or component may be omitted or modified as needed, and no other modules or components may exist between any two modules. As long as they do not deviate from the basic structure of the present invention, they should be the scope of rights claimed in this patent, and the scope of patent application shall prevail.

1‧‧‧Detection device
10‧‧‧Sound play module
20‧‧‧Input interface
21, 22, 23, 24‧‧‧ input patterns
30‧‧‧ Processor
31‧‧‧Input interface providing module
32‧‧‧ Sound Module
33‧‧‧Judgement module
40‧‧‧ memory
S10～S20‧‧‧Steps

1 is an implementation environment diagram of an embodiment of a pure tone hearing detecting device of the present invention. 2 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method for detecting pure tone hearing according to the present invention. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the input interface shown in FIG. 1. Figure 4 is a pure tone audiogram obtained in accordance with the detection method shown in Figure 2.

1‧‧‧Detection device

20‧‧‧Input interface

31‧‧‧Input interface providing module

33‧‧‧Judgement module

10‧‧‧Sound play module

30‧‧‧ Processor

32‧‧‧ Sound Module

40‧‧‧ memory

Claims (10)

A method for detecting pure tone hearing for testing by a tester, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first test stimulus to the tester, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency and a first intensity, And the first test stimulus is selected from one of N test tones, wherein N is an integer and 2≦N≦5, wherein the mth test tone of the N test tones is m short tones, and 1≦m≦N; and receiving a response corresponding to the first test stimulus. The detection method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining the response, wherein when the response is correct, providing a second test stimulus, the second test stimulus having a second frequency, Or the second test stimulus has the first frequency and a second intensity, the second intensity being less than the first intensity; and when the response is an error, providing a third test stimulus, the third test stimulus having a first The three frequencies, or the third test stimulus, have the first frequency and a third intensity, the third intensity being greater than the first intensity. The detection method of claim 1, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency, and the third frequency is different from the first frequency. The detection method of claim 3, further comprising the step of: providing an input interface to receive the response corresponding to the first test stimulus, the input interface having N+1 input patterns. The detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein N is 3. A pure tone hearing detecting device for detecting by a tester, the detecting device comprising: a sound playing module, providing a first test stimulus to the tester, wherein the first test stimulus has a first frequency and a a first intensity, and the first test stimulus is selected from one of N test tones, wherein N is an integer and 2≦N≦5, wherein the mth test tone of the N test tones is m a short tone, and 1≦m≦N; and a determination module receiving a response corresponding to the first test stimulus. The detecting device of claim 6, wherein the determining module determines the response, wherein: when the response is correct, providing a second test stimulus, the second test stimulus having a second frequency, or The second test stimulus has the first frequency and a second intensity, the second intensity being less than the first intensity; and when the response is an error, providing a third test stimulus, the third test stimulus having a third The frequency, or the third test stimulus, has the first frequency and a third intensity, the third intensity being greater than the first intensity. The detecting device of claim 1, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency, and the third frequency is different from the first frequency. The detecting device of claim 8, further comprising: an input interface for receiving the response corresponding to the first test stimulus, the input interface 3 having N+1 input patterns. The detecting device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein N is 3.