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KR-102963488-B1 - Hearing test device and hearing test method using kiosk

KR102963488B1KR 102963488 B1KR102963488 B1KR 102963488B1KR-102963488-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hearing test device and method. By considering the duration, frequency, and volume of environmental noise and adjusting attributes such as test suspension, noise cancellation, or test sound frequency, a more accurate and efficient hearing test is possible. Furthermore, by comprehensively considering survey results, pure tone audiometry, and image information, a more accurate hearing test result can be derived. Additionally, based on an accumulated database, the time required for the hearing test can be effectively shortened by selecting and outputting the test sound frequency and volume.

Inventors

  • 이보연

Assignees

  • 주식회사 오디에스오

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230329

Claims (10)

  1. A hearing test method comprising: receiving answers to one or more questionnaires including age information of the subject; outputting a test sound of a specific frequency and volume within an audible frequency range to the subject and receiving input on whether the subject can hear it; acquiring an image of the subject's ear; and comparing the answers to the questionnaire, the audibility of the specific frequency and volume values received from the subject, and the captured ear image data with values stored in a hearing test result database, and presenting to the subject a test result for the matching data.
  2. A hearing test method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting a test sound of a specific frequency and volume to a subject and receiving input on whether the subject can hear it is performed repeatedly by changing the frequency and volume until a hearing threshold value for each audible frequency is obtained, and the volume value of a specific frequency output to the subject at the n+1th time is characterized by determining whether the response regarding whether the subject can hear it received up to the nth time matches the response value stored in the hearing test result database, and being within ±10dB of the threshold value of a specific frequency finally derived from the matching hearing test result.
  3. A hearing test method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting a test sound of a specific frequency and volume to a subject and receiving input on whether the subject can hear it is performed repeatedly by changing the frequency and volume until a hearing threshold for each audible frequency is obtained, and wherein the frequency value of the test sound output to the subject in the n+1th step is the value that differs most from the frequency value corresponding to the maximum volume of environmental noise measured by the microphone.
  4. A hearing test method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of stopping the hearing test when the volume of ambient noise acquired through a microphone exceeds a preset reference value.
  5. A hearing test method according to claim 1, characterized in that when the volume and duration of ambient noise acquired through a microphone exceed a preset reference value, a noise cancellation signal with a phase opposite to the phase of the ambient noise signal is generated, and the noise cancellation signal and the test sound are added to output the test sound.
  6. A hearing test method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting a test sound of a specific frequency and volume within an audible frequency range to the subject and receiving input on whether the subject can hear it is performed by outputting a preliminary test sound prior to outputting the test sound of a specific frequency and volume and receiving the subject's audible input regarding it.
  7. A hearing test method according to claim 1, wherein the step of outputting a test sound of a specific frequency and volume within an audible frequency range to the subject and receiving input regarding whether the subject can hear it is performed after presenting visual information to the subject through a display and receiving input regarding whether the subject perceives it.
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Description

Hearing test device and hearing test method using kiosk The present invention relates to an audiometric testing device and method using a kiosk, and more specifically, to an device and method that provides a more accurate audiometric test by using a kiosk to allow a subject to respond to a questionnaire, perform pure-tone audiometry, and capture images of the inside of the ear. A hearing test is an examination designed to evaluate the ability to hear sounds and determine the presence or absence of hearing loss. To perform the test, an operator (doctor or audiologist) measures hearing using an audiometer, which is a signal generator that produces pure tones of adjustable amplitude and frequency, and diagnoses the examinee's hearing level based on the measured results. Sound audiometry is classified into air conduction audiometry, where sound is transmitted through the air, and bone conduction audiometry, where sound is transmitted through the bone, depending on the transmission process of sound. In bone conduction audiometry, a vibrator is placed on the mastoid process behind the ear to vibrate the skull and directly stimulate the cochlea to measure hearing. Although this is a very important test for identifying and diagnosing the type of hearing loss, all domestic and international audiometry institutions use conventional unidirectional models in which the bone vibrator is positioned on only one side. Consequently, the subject faces the inconvenience of having to change the position of the bone vibrator and wear it again to test the opposite ear after testing one ear. Furthermore, while the physical conditions of the subjects vary, existing bone conduction devices have standardized specifications, making it difficult for the subject to wear them stably and causing the test position of the bone vibrator to shift. Air conduction audiometry focuses on frequencies ranging from 250 Hz to 8 kHz because this range includes sounds necessary for effective communication in daily life. Specifically, the audiometer used during the test generates loud sounds at each frequency and gradually reduces the volume until the minimum decibel level a person can hear is recorded on the audiogram. Based on this recorded audiogram, the examiner's hearing status is diagnosed. Hearing loss is generally defined as a loss of 25 dB or more; the population with hearing loss increases with age, with approximately 81% of people over the age of 70 having hearing loss. Since patients with hearing loss account for about 25% of those visiting ENT clinics, it is known that a significant number of people have various degrees of hearing problems, and the population with hearing loss is expected to continue increasing due to rapid aging. Nevertheless, since hearing tests are conducted in soundproof booths using expensive equipment under the control of experts such as doctors or audiologists, there are many limitations to the general public periodically assessing their hearing status in daily life. Accordingly, technologies are being developed to enable hearing tests in non-clinical environments using smartphones or tablet PCs; however, there are issues such as environmental noise and decreased concentration among test subjects due to the long duration of the test. U.S. Patent No. 11266330 presents a technique for restarting a hearing test when environmental noise exceeds a certain level during the hearing test process, but since environmental noise may not affect the hearing test depending on the frequency of the noise, it may be inefficient to uniformly restart the test when it exceeds a specific dB. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-023363 discloses a technology that provides a vibrator in the headphones of a hearing test device to induce the user to concentrate during the test by generating vibrations, in order to solve the problem that the subject's concentration may decrease due to the long duration of the pure tone audiometry test. However, separate vibrations can actually lower concentration during the test, and there is the inconvenience of having to manufacture and use separate headphones equipped with a vibrator. Korean Registered Patent No. 1757359 discloses a hearing test device that generates a noise cancellation signal with a phase opposite to that of an ambient noise signal, and generates an output signal by adding the noise cancellation signal and the original sound signal of the hearing test, and cancels out environmental noise by controlling the magnitude of the noise cancellation signal through a hand switch. However, since the frequency or magnitude of environmental noise can continuously change, there is a problem in that the magnitude of the cancellation signal must be continuously controlled through the hand switch according to such changes. Figure 1 is a graph showing the results of a pure tone audiometry test in one embodiment. In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present