ECOUTEURS CAPABLES DE RETROACTION ET AUDIOMETRE INFORMATISE POURVU DE TELS ECOUTEURS

FEEDBACK CAPABLE EARPHONES AND A COMPUTERIZED AUDIOMETER WHICH CONTAINS THEM

Abrégé français

Cette invention permet de mener des tests auditifs de façon simple et bon marché sans nécessiter de locaux insonorisés ni la voix d'un technicien qualifié. L'invention comporte, d'une part des écouteurs capables de rétroaction (2) rassemblant des écouteurs (1) placés près de l'oreille et un microphone (3) installé en vue d'une rétroaction à proximité de l'un des écouteurs, et d'autre part un audiomètre informatisé. Ce dernier est constitué, d'une part des écouteurs capables de rétroaction (2), d'un micro-ordinateur (5) exécutant un programme de test permettant de mener une suite de tests et d'analyser les résultats, ce même micro-ordinateur étant capable de calibrer le volume du son entendu dans les écouteurs et d'annuler les influences des bruits extérieurs, d'autre part d'une carte vocale (4) montée dans l'ordinateur (5) et grâce à laquelle le programme de test restitue une série de sons et d'instructions destinés à la personne subissant les tests, et enfin d'une manette de commande (6) qui permet à la personne subissant les tests de réagir aux sons et aux instructions en agissant sur un bouton (7).

Abrégé anglais

The present invention makes the performance of hearing tests simple and
inexpensive without the need for soundproof rooms or the voice of a skilled
technician. It comprises Feedback Capable Earphones (2) comprised of earphones
(1) placed next to the ear and a microphone (3) installed for feedback next to
one of the earphones and a Computerized Audiometer comprised of said feedback
capable earphones (2), a personal computer (5) with a test program which
performs a series of tests and analyzes the results and which can calibrate
the volume of the sound heard in the earphones and cancel the influence of
external noises, a voice card (4) installed within the computer (5) through
which the program of the test plays a series of tones and instructions for the
examined person, and a steering stick (6) which helps the examined person to
react to the tones and the instructions, using button (7).

Revendications

CLAIMS
1. Feedback Capable Earphones comprised of earphones for hearing placed
next to the ear and a microphone installed for feedback next to one of the
earphones.
2. A Computerized Audiometer comprised of feedback capable earphones
as claimed in claim number one, a personal computer with a test program
which performs a series of tests and analyzes the results, a voice card
installed within the computer through which the program of the test plays
a series of tones and instructions for the examined person, and a steering
stick which helps the examined person to react to the tones and the
instructions.
3. A Computerized Audiometer as claimed in Claim Number 2 wherein the
program of the test calibrates the volume of the sound heard in the
earphone and cancels the influence of external noises.
6

Description

CA 02283650 1999-09-14
WO 98/41973 PCT/IL97/00092
FEEDBACK CAPABLE EARPHONES AND
A COMPUTERIZED AUDIOMETER WHICH CONTAINS THEM
The present invention relates to the field of systems for the performance of
hearing tests for humans, audiometers, and accessories used in these systems.
An audiometer is a system for the performance of healing tests, by way of
hearing, either in the left ear, the right ear, tones of various frequencies
and
volumes, among these directing by tone of speech at differing volume levels.
The hearing is done by earphones which rest on the ears of the examined
person. The results of the test are determined according to the response or
lack of response of the examined person to the tones and/or to the directions
given.
When the guide of the test sets the audiometer so that the examined person
will hear a tone at a specific frequency and volume, the guide must be certain
that what is heard in the earphone - which is located at the closest point to
the
ear of the examined person - is in fact identical with what the guide intended
to be heard.
1

CA 02283650 1999-09-14
WO 98/41973 PCT/IL97/00092
The reliability of the test can be harmed by several factors. Two of the more
important of these are: a) lack of accurate correspondence between the tone
heard and between what the guide of the test intended to be heard; b)
disturbing external noise which reach the earphone not by means of the
device. In order to overcome these disturbances, the test is performed by
expert technicians in rooms sealed off from external noises. These factors add
make the test more expensive and can hamper performance.
The present invention overcomes these two factors and makes it possible to
perform the test with relative ease ir~ any reasonable place
The present invention is Feedback Capable Earphones comprised of a pair of
hearing earphones and a microphone next to one of the earphones for
feedback and calibration, and a Computerized Audiometer comprised of
"Feedback Capable Earphones", a personal computer with testing software, a
voice card installed within the computer and a steering stick which assists
the
examined person to react to the tones and commands.
The present invention is described in Figures 1 and 2. These figures are not
intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention and are for purposes
of
description alone.
Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Earphones
Figure 2 describes the computerized audiometer.
2

CA 02283650 1999-09-14
WO 98/41973 PCT/IL97/00092
Figure 1 describes the Feedback Capable Earphones, comprised of a pair
of hearing earphones (1) which are installed within a hanger (2) which is
intended to place the earphones next to the ears of the listener and the
microphone (3) which is installed next to one of the earphones for feedback.
The Feedback Capable Earphones, according to the present invention, are
used - additionally - for testing with an audiometer. At the time of the
examination, with an audiometer, it is possible that completely undesirable
external noise will reach the ears of the examined person. By means of a
microphone (3), the present invention makes it possible to transfer to the
audiometer exactly what the examined person heard and when the audiometer
identifies that the tone heard was interfered with by completely undesirable
external noise, it is able to cancel the unwanted effect by repeating the
disturbed test or by indicating through analysis of the examination exactly
what the examined person heard.
Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to perform calibration of what is
heard in the earphones. Tones arrive in an electronic manner from the
audiometer to the earphones become a hearing tone. Due to limitations of the
system, it is possible that the voice tone produced by the earphone is
different
from that which the system intended to be heard. The microphone(3) next to
the earphone absorbs the tone produced by way of the earphone (1) and turns
it into an electronic wave which is returned to the system as feedback for
comparison between the tone heard and that which the system intended to be
heard, in this manner the system is able to calibrate itself.
3

CA 02283650 1999-09-14
WO 98/41973 PCT/IL97/00092
The Feedback Capable Earphones, according to the present invention,
provide the hearing unit together with feedback which makes possible to filter
and/or to take into consideration the completely undesirable external noise
and to perform calibration of the system.
Figure 2 describes the Computerized Audiometer comprised of Feedback
Capable Earphones - comprised of a pair of hearing earphones (1) connected
to a hanger (2) which places the earphones next to the ears of the examined
person and a microphone which enables feedback (3) installed next to the
earphone - the earphones are balanced and return feedback by means of the
voice card (4) which produces tones at a frequency and volume according to
the instructions of the computer (5) and brings to the program the feedback
which arrives from the earphones for the purpose of comparison, the
examined person reacts to the hearing tones and/or the commands by means
of a steering stick (6) and button (7)
which is found at the head of the steering stick, the examined person can
move the steering stick forward, backwards or to the sideways according to
the instructions heard and can press on the button at the head of the steering
stick to confum hearing of the tone. At the end of the exam the program
performs a test software, which installed in the computer, that analyzes the
results of the examination and an analysis of the test is presented on the
screen of the computer.
4
_.. ~ r

CA 02283650 1999-09-14
WO 98/41973 PCT/IL97/00092
The computerized audiometer, according to the invention, can perform the
test automatically or by operation of the operator and play for the examined
person a series of tones at differing frequencies and volumes where the
examined person is required to press on the button at the end of the steering
stick to confirm hearing of the tone. Failure to press within the time
rationed
indicates not hearing. Likewise, the computerized audiometer, according to
the invention, plays instructions to move the steering stick - by speech tone
at differing volumes - in different directions, requiring the examined person
to
react and to perform the instructions played. Lack of response in the time
rationed indicates lack of hearing the instruction. The examination is
performed on each ear separately.
The advantage of the present invention is that it answers the two central
problems of existing systems for hearing tests. The computerized audiometer
comprised in the present invention calibrates itself by means of the earphone
with the microphone installed within it and the tone played for the examined
person is exactly what the audiometer or the operated requested to be heard.
Likewise, the computerized audiometer in the present invention can identify
external noises that reach the earphone and are absorbed by the microphone
within it. In this instance the audiometer neutralizes the influence of the
external noise through repeat performance of the disturbed test and through
consideration of the components of noise in the analysis of the results of the
examination.
The advantages of the system comprised by the present invention make the
performance of hearing tests simple and inexpensive without need for
soundproof rooms or the skillful voice of a technician.