Method of bone conduction threshold measurement using bone vibrator stimulation at forehead position

Abstract

This invention discloses a method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds by exciting the forehead with a bone resonator. The method includes: inserting probe-type microphones into both ear canals of the subject and wearing sound-insulating headphones at the entrances of both ear canals; applying bone conduction excitation to the subject's forehead and measuring the sound pressure levels of transient response otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) bilaterally; and obtaining the bilateral mastoid bone conduction thresholds of the subject based on a pre-established correlation database between transient response OAEs and mastoid bone conduction hearing thresholds. Compared with the bone conduction hearing threshold testing procedures specified by international standards, the method of this invention has a shorter measurement time and higher efficiency, provides data support for inferring subjective bone conduction hearing thresholds from objective physiological signals, and is particularly suitable for bone conduction hearing threshold testing in children.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of bone conduction hearing threshold measurement technology, and particularly relates to a method for measuring bone conduction hearing threshold by exciting the forehead position with a bone vibrator. Background Technology

[0002] Current international standards for bone conduction hearing threshold measurement only apply to specific bone conduction device models and typically place the device at the mastoid process. Furthermore, the measurement methods are time-consuming and unsuitable for rapid measurements. Unlike bone conduction devices that excite the sides of the skull (such as the mastoid process) and require measurements at both left and right locations, bone conduction devices that excite the forehead only require testing at one location. Moreover, without air conduction masking, only the bone conduction threshold of the better ear is measured. While it's possible to directly measure the bone conduction threshold of the worse ear using subjective listening methods with air conduction masking, this purely subjective method is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Additionally, it's difficult to perform bone conduction threshold testing with air conduction masking on children. Although methods and devices exist for hearing screening using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), these methods and devices cannot perform precise measurements of hearing loss; they are only suitable for initial screening and only involve air conduction, not bone conduction.

[0003] There are two ways humans perceive sound: air conduction and bone conduction. When using air conduction, sound waves pass sequentially through the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, finally reaching the cochlea. When using bone conduction, sound waves directly stimulate the cochlea by vibrating the skull. Air conduction hearing thresholds reflect the function of the entire auditory system, including bone conduction and sensorineural hearing; bone conduction hearing thresholds primarily reflect the function of the sensorineural auditory system. Bone conduction hearing thresholds are an important basis for determining the degree of sensorineural hearing loss. Bilateral bone conduction has almost no isolation at low frequencies and low isolation at high frequencies; therefore, even with bilateral bone conduction excitation, it is difficult to measure the bone conduction hearing threshold of the ear with poor sensorineural hearing loss. In such cases, air conduction masking can be used on the non-test ear to measure the bone conduction hearing threshold of the test ear, but this process is complex, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Compared to using a bone conduction device to excite the sides of the skull, placing the device in the forehead has the following advantages: First, a single measurement can obtain the bone conduction threshold of the ear with better sensorineural hearing function (hereinafter referred to as the better ear); second, the forehead tissue is more uniform, resulting in better repeatability and less inter-individual variation; and third, it reduces the influence of middle ear factors. However, when using a bone conduction device to excite the forehead, it is still difficult to measure the bone conduction threshold of the ear with poorer sensorineural hearing function (hereinafter referred to as the poorer ear) if purely subjective auditory observation is performed without masking.

[0004] Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) refer to the audio energy released in a certain form after a certain latency period following stimulation of the outer hair cells of the cochlea by short-duration sound (such as a click or a short pure tone). Currently, there are clinical applications of using TEOAEs for initial hearing screening, but there are no applied studies using TEOAEs for detailed hearing threshold analysis. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Existing subjective bone conduction hearing threshold measurements suffer from technical drawbacks such as complex procedures and difficulty in measuring poor ear bone conduction hearing thresholds when bone conduction excites the forehead. The purpose of this invention is to overcome these technical shortcomings and propose a method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds by using a bone vibrator to excite the forehead.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds by exciting a bone vibrator at the forehead position, the method comprising:

[0007] Step 1) Insert probe-type microphones into both ear canals of the subject and put soundproof headphones into the entrances of both ear canals;

[0008] Step 2) Apply bone conduction stimulation to the subject's forehead and measure the sound pressure level of the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signal;

[0009] Step 3) Based on the pre-established association database of transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction thresholds, obtain the bilateral mastoid bone conduction thresholds of the subject.

[0010] Preferably, step 2) specifically includes: when the subject's forehead is excited by a voltage level input through a bone resonator, the transient response otoacoustic emission signal sound pressure levels of the left and right ears are measured to be PL and PR, respectively.

[0011] Preferably, the method further includes: a step of establishing a correlation database between transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction hearing thresholds, specifically including:

[0012] Step S1) Select a certain number of healthy hearing and mild hearing loss patients as subjects. For each subject, the forehead position is stimulated by a bone vibrator, and soundproof headphones are worn at the entrance of both ear canals. Bone conduction hearing threshold is measured using an audiometer. The mastoid position is stimulated by a bone vibrator, and bone conduction hearing threshold is measured using an audiometer.

[0013] Calculate the average bone conduction hearing threshold HT1 at the forehead position and the average bone conduction hearing threshold HT2 at the mastoid position, respectively.

[0014] The forehead position of the bone vibrator is calibrated to zero level by calculating the difference HT3 between HT1 and HT2.

[0015] Step S2) Select a certain number of patients with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss as subjects. Insert a high signal-to-noise ratio probe microphone into the ear canal of each subject and put on soundproof headphones at the entrance of both ear canals. Excite the forehead with a short pure tone with a high input voltage level through a bone resonator. Measure the transient response emission signal sound pressure level of the left and right ears respectively, and take the larger value as the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi of the better ear.

[0016] Step S3) Excite the forehead position with a bone vibrator, put on soundproof headphones at the entrance of both ear canals, and use an audiometer to measure the bone conduction hearing threshold to obtain the frontal excitation threshold HTi corresponding to the better ear;

[0017] Step S4) Establish a correlation between the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi corresponding to the better ear of each subject obtained in steps S2) and S3) and the corresponding prefrontal excitation threshold HTi;

[0018] Step S5) Based on steps S1) and S4), calculate the correlation between the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi in the unilateral ear canal of each subject and the bone conduction hearing threshold of the ipsilateral mastoid process.

[0019] Preferably, step 3) includes:

[0020] Based on the transient response otoacoustic emission signal sound pressure levels PL and PR of the left and right ears measured in step 2), the true bone conduction thresholds of the left and right ears during forehead excitation are obtained from the association database of transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction thresholds as HTL and HTR, respectively. The true bone conduction thresholds of the left ear during bilateral mastoid excitation are HTL+HT3 and HTR+HT3, respectively.

[0021] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0022] Step 4) Cross-validate the bilateral mastoid bone conduction thresholds of the subject obtained in Step 3) using a subjective audiometry test. If the difference is greater than 5 dB, the audiometry result in Step 3) is incorrect, and proceed to Step 1) for retesting.

[0023] Preferably, the subjective audiological experiment specifically includes:

[0024] The subject's forehead is excited by a bone vibrator to obtain the bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear. The forehead bone conduction hearing threshold is then calibrated to the mastoid bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear using the difference HT3.

[0025] Wear soundproof headphones and apply noise masking to the better ear. The hearing level of the masking noise is set as follows: the sum of the mastoid bone conduction threshold of the worse ear obtained in step 3) and the interaural attenuation of the soundproof headphones minus 5dB. At this time, measure the bone conduction threshold of the forehead to obtain the forehead stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear. Add HT3 to obtain the mastoid stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0027] 1. This invention establishes an objective and rapid method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds, which is faster and more efficient than the bone conduction hearing threshold testing steps specified in international standards.

[0028] 2. This invention extracts the transient evoked otoacoustic emission signal, an objective physiological signal, and maps this objective physiological signal to the bone conduction hearing threshold, thereby providing data support for inferring the subjective bone conduction hearing threshold from the objective physiological signal.

[0029] 3. This invention proposes that bilateral bone conduction hearing thresholds can be measured with a single excitation position. Moreover, the forehead excitation position has good repeatability and small individual differences, which speeds up the efficiency and improves the reliability and accuracy of bone conduction hearing threshold measurement.

[0030] 4. Since children's physiological, psychological, and cognitive factors make it difficult for them to cooperate with masked bone conduction hearing threshold testing, the method proposed in this invention is particularly suitable for conducting bone conduction hearing threshold testing on children. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds by exciting the forehead position with a bone vibrator according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] like Figure 1 This invention proposes a method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds by exciting a bone vibrator at the forehead position, comprising the following steps:

[0033] Step 1: Zero-level calibration of the bone conduction hearing threshold at the forehead position. Select a certain number of hearing-sounding subjects or patients with mild hearing loss. Measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT1) by exciting the bilateral mastoid region with a bone conduction device. Then, excite the forehead of the same subjects with the same bone conduction device and wear sound-isolating headphones at the entrance of both ear canals to measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT2). Then, calculate how much HT2 is higher than HT1 at each frequency point to calibrate the difference in bone conduction hearing thresholds between the mastoid and forehead positions.

[0034] Step 2: Recruit individuals with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. Insert high signal-to-noise ratio probe microphones into the ear canals of subject i. Simultaneously, place the same sound-isolating headphones as in Step 1 at the entrance of both ear canals. Place a bone resonator on the forehead for short pure-tone excitation. Send a short pure-tone excitation signal with a relatively high input voltage level (denoted as Emax) to the bone resonator. Keep the sound-isolating headphones silent. Measure the transient response otoacoustic emission signal in the ear canal (denoted as PHTL and PHTR for the left and right ears, respectively). Record the larger value of the left and right sides as Pi. Simultaneously, measure the forehead excitation threshold corresponding to the better ear as HTi.

[0035] Step 3: Based on the measurement of a sufficient number of people with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss in Step 2, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of the better ear and the bone conduction threshold when the frontal bone resonator is excited with an input voltage level of Emax.

[0036] Step Four: Based on Steps One and Three, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of one ear and the bone conduction threshold during mastoid excitation when the frontal bone vibrator is excited at an input voltage level of Emax. For subjects excited by the frontal bone vibrator at an input voltage level of Emax, calculate the bone conduction thresholds for bilateral mastoid excitation (without headphones) using the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signals. The bone conduction thresholds during mastoid excitation match current national standards, and the data can be used for clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation.

[0037] Step 5: Cross-validation can be performed using subjective auditory experiments and the objective auditory results from Step 4. For example, by exciting the forehead with a bone conduction device, during subjective auditory observation, first measure and verify the better ear from Step 4. The bone conduction threshold of the forehead is obtained by exciting the forehead with the bone conduction device. The forehead bone conduction threshold is then calibrated to the mastoid bone conduction threshold using the calibration value from Step 1. Next, measure the worse ear from Step 4. Wear soundproof headphones with noise masking at the better ear. The hearing level of the masking noise is set to be slightly lower than the sum of the bone conduction threshold of the worse ear (measured in Step 4) and the interaural attenuation of the soundproof headphones. When the better ear is air-conducted and masked, measure the bone conduction threshold of the forehead. The bone conduction threshold of the worse ear is then obtained. The forehead bone conduction threshold is then calibrated to the true mastoid bone conduction threshold using the calibration value from Step 1.

[0038] Step Six: This can also be directly verified through subjective auditory experiments. For example, by exciting one side of the mastoid process with a bone conduction device, the bone conduction hearing threshold of that side of the mastoid process without masking is measured. The bone conduction hearing thresholds of both sides of the mastoid process are compared, and the lower value is the true bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear. The bone conduction hearing threshold of the worse ear is measured according to the method of masking noise in the national standard to obtain the true bone conduction hearing threshold of the worse ear.

[0039] This invention proposes to use an objective measurement method to measure the transient evoked otoacoustic emission signal of bone conduction when measuring the bone conduction hearing threshold of the forehead, thereby quickly estimating the bone conduction thresholds on both sides. It can also be combined with subjective hearing test and correction of the objective estimation results.

[0040] Therefore, this application proposes a method to measure bone conduction thresholds using transient evoked otoacoustic emission signals when a bone conduction transducer excites the forehead, achieving bilateral bone conduction threshold measurement with a single excitation. This method can be used to directly measure bilateral bone conduction thresholds and can also be cross-validated with subjective audiometry methods to improve measurement efficiency. This bone conduction hearing threshold measurement method is fast and efficient, achieving the goal of determining the degree of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss by measuring a single location, while breaking the current limitation of bone conduction hearing threshold measurement to only a few types of bone conduction transducers. This method is particularly suitable for obtaining intermediate results for hearing-impaired children who have difficulty cooperating with masking tests.

[0041] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0042] Example 1

[0043] This embodiment mainly involves establishing a correlation database between transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction hearing thresholds in the early stage. Probe-type microphones are inserted into both ear canals of the subject, and headphones are worn in both ears to isolate ambient sound. Bone conduction stimulation is applied to the subject's forehead, and the transient response otoacoustic emission signals of both sides are measured to infer the true mastoid bone conduction thresholds of both sides.

[0044] Step 1: Zero-level calibration of the forehead position for bone conduction device excitation. A certain number of healthy hearing patients and patients with mild hearing loss were selected. The average hearing threshold of the better ear was measured by exciting the bilateral mastoid positions with a bone conduction device, which is HT1. The same bone conduction device was used to excite the forehead of the same subjects, and soundproof headphones were worn at the entrance of both ear canals to measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear, which is HT2. Then, the bone conduction hearing threshold difference between the mastoid and the forehead at each frequency point was calculated as HT3 = HT1 - HT2.

[0045] Step 2: Recruit individuals with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. High signal-to-noise ratio probe microphones are implanted in both ear canals of subject i. Simultaneously, sound-isolating headphones (similar to those in Step 1) are worn at the entrances of both ear canals. Bone mufflers are worn on the forehead for short pure-tone excitation. A short pure-tone excitation signal with a relatively high input voltage level (denoted as Emax) is sent to the bone mufflers. The sound-isolating headphones are kept silent. The transient response otoacoustic emission signals within the ear canals are measured (the sound pressure levels of the left and right ears are denoted as PHTL and PHTR, respectively). The larger value between the left and right ears is denoted as Pi. The forehead excitation threshold corresponding to the better ear is also measured as HTi.

[0046] Step 3: Based on the measurement of a sufficient number of people with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss in Step 2, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of the better ear and the bone conduction threshold when the frontal bone resonator is excited with an input voltage level of Emax.

[0047] Step Four: Based on Step One and Step Three, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of one ear and the bone conduction threshold during mastoid excitation when the frontal bone vibrator is excited at the Emax input voltage level. For example, when the subject is excited by the frontal bone vibrator at the Emax input voltage level, the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signals PL and PR are measured. The true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral stimulation during frontal excitation are calculated from the correlation database in Step Three as HTL and HTR. Then, the true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral mastoid excitation are calculated from the results in Step One as HTL+HT3 and HTR+HT3. The bone conduction thresholds during mastoid excitation match the current national standards, and the data can be used for clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] This embodiment is mainly based on Embodiment 1, and performs differential verification by subjective threshold determination and objective threshold measurement.

[0050] Step 1: Zero-level calibration of the forehead position for bone conduction vibration. Select a certain number of hearing-sounding subjects or patients with mild hearing loss. Measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT1) by stimulating the bilateral mastoid region with a bone conduction vibration. Then, stimulate the forehead of the same subjects with the same bone conduction vibration and wear sound-isolating headphones at the entrance of both ear canals to measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT2). Calculate the bone conduction hearing threshold difference between the mastoid region and the forehead at each frequency point: HT3 = HT1 - HT2.

[0051] Step 2: Recruit individuals with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. High signal-to-noise ratio probe microphones are implanted in both ear canals of subject i. Simultaneously, sound-isolating headphones (similar to those in Step 1) are worn at the entrances of both ear canals. Bone mufflers are worn on the forehead for short pure-tone excitation. A short pure-tone excitation signal with a relatively high input voltage level (denoted as Emax) is sent to the bone mufflers. The sound-isolating headphones are kept silent. The transient response otoacoustic emission signals within the ear canals are measured (the sound pressure levels of the left and right ears are denoted as PHTL and PHTR, respectively). The larger value between the left and right ears is denoted as Pi. The forehead excitation threshold corresponding to the better ear is also measured as HTi.

[0052] Step 3: Based on the measurement of a sufficient number of people with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss in Step 2, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of the better ear and the bone conduction threshold when the frontal bone resonator is excited with an input voltage level of Emax.

[0053] Step Four: Based on Step One and Step Three, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of one ear and the bone conduction threshold during mastoid excitation when the frontal bone vibrator is excited at the Emax input voltage level. For example, when the subject is excited by the frontal bone vibrator at the Emax input voltage level, the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signals PL and PR are measured. The true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral stimulation during frontal excitation are calculated from the correlation database in Step Three as HTL and HTR. Then, the true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral mastoid excitation are calculated from the results in Step One as HTL+HT3 and HTR+HT3. The bone conduction thresholds during mastoid excitation match the current national standards, and the data can be used for clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation.

[0054] Step 5: Cross-validate the subjective auditory results with the objective auditory results from Step 4. For example, by exciting the forehead with a bone conduction device, during subjective auditory testing, first measure and verify the better ear from Step 4. The bone conduction threshold of the forehead is obtained by exciting the forehead with the bone conduction device. The forehead bone conduction threshold is calibrated to the mastoid bone conduction threshold of the better ear using the calibration value HT3 from Step 1. Next, measure the worse ear from Step 4. Wear soundproof headphones and add noise masking at the better ear. The hearing level of the masking noise is set as: the sum of the bone conduction threshold of the worse ear (measured in Step 4) and the interaural attenuation of the soundproof headphones, minus 5dB. At this time, measure the bone conduction threshold of the forehead. This gives the forehead stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear. The mastoid stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear is the forehead stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear plus HT3. Comparing the bilateral mastoid stimulation bone conduction thresholds in step four, if the difference is no more than 5 dB, the result of step four is acceptable; if the difference is more than 5 dB, the previous step was incorrect and needs to be retested.

[0055] Example 3

[0056] This embodiment mainly verifies the objective method for determining bone conduction threshold proposed in this application by using the subjective method for determining bone conduction threshold specified in national standards, based on Embodiment 1.

[0057] Step 1: Zero-level calibration of the forehead position for bone conduction vibration. Select a certain number of hearing-sounding subjects or patients with mild hearing loss. Measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT1) by stimulating the bilateral mastoid region with a bone conduction vibration. Then, stimulate the forehead of the same subjects with the same bone conduction vibration and wear sound-isolating headphones at the entrance of both ear canals to measure the average hearing threshold of the better ear (HT2). Calculate the bone conduction hearing threshold difference between the mastoid region and the forehead at each frequency point: HT3 = HT1 - HT2.

[0058] Step 2: Recruit individuals with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. High signal-to-noise ratio probe microphones are implanted in both ear canals of subject i. Simultaneously, sound-isolating headphones (similar to those in Step 1) are worn at the entrances of both ear canals. Bone mufflers are worn on the forehead for short pure-tone excitation. A short pure-tone excitation signal with a relatively high input voltage level (denoted as Emax) is sent to the bone mufflers. The sound-isolating headphones are kept silent. The transient response otoacoustic emission signals within the ear canals are measured (the sound pressure levels of the left and right ears are denoted as PHTL and PHTR, respectively). The larger value between the left and right ears is denoted as Pi. The forehead excitation threshold corresponding to the better ear is also measured as HTi.

[0059] Step 3: Based on the measurement of a sufficient number of people with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss in Step 2, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of the better ear and the bone conduction threshold when the frontal bone resonator is excited with an input voltage level of Emax.

[0060] Step Four: Based on Step One and Step Three, establish the correlation between the sound pressure level of the transient response otoacoustic emission signal of one ear and the bone conduction threshold during mastoid excitation when the frontal bone vibrator is excited at the Emax input voltage level. For example, when the subject is excited by the frontal bone vibrator at the Emax input voltage level, the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signals PL and PR are measured. The true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral stimulation during frontal excitation are calculated from the correlation database in Step Three as HTL and HTR. Then, the true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral mastoid excitation are calculated from the results in Step One as HTL+HT3 and HTR+HT3. The bone conduction thresholds during mastoid excitation match the current national standards, and the data can be used for clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation.

[0061] Step 5: Verify the objective measurement results of Step 4 using the subjective audiometry test specified in the national standard. For example, by exciting one mastoid process with a bone conduction device, measure the bone conduction threshold of that mastoid process without masking. Compare the bone conduction thresholds of both mastoid processes under excitation; the lower value is the true bone conduction threshold of the better ear. The bone conduction threshold of the worse ear is measured using the masking noise method specified in the national standard to obtain the true bone conduction threshold of the worse ear. Compare this with the bone conduction threshold of both mastoid processes in Step 4. If the difference is no more than 5 dB, the result of Step 4 is acceptable; if the difference is greater than 5 dB, the previous step is incorrect and needs to be repeated.

[0062] The method for estimating bone conduction threshold using a bone vibrator to excite the forehead position, provided by this invention, yields intermediate results and cannot be directly used for hearing diagnosis. This method can promote efficient and reliable research on bone conduction thresholds, and also expand the range of bone vibrator types and excitation positions available for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions to the technical solutions of the present invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for measuring bone conduction hearing thresholds at the forehead position using a bone vibrator, the method comprising: Step 1) Insert probe-type microphones into both ear canals of the subject and put soundproof headphones into the entrances of both ear canals; Step 2) Apply bone conduction stimulation to the subject's forehead and measure the sound pressure level of the bilateral transient response otoacoustic emission signal; Step 3) Based on the pre-established association database between transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction thresholds, obtain the bilateral mastoid bone conduction thresholds of the subject; The steps for establishing the association database between the transient response otoacoustic emission signal and the mastoid bone conduction threshold specifically include: Step S1) Select a certain number of healthy hearing and mild hearing loss patients as subjects. For each subject, the forehead position is stimulated by a bone vibrator, and soundproof headphones are worn at the entrance of both ear canals. Bone conduction hearing threshold is measured using an audiometer. The mastoid position is stimulated by a bone vibrator, and bone conduction hearing threshold is measured using an audiometer. Calculate the average bone conduction hearing threshold HT1 at the forehead position and the average bone conduction hearing threshold HT2 at the mastoid position, respectively. The forehead position of the bone vibrator is calibrated to zero level by calculating the difference HT3 between HT1 and HT2. Step S2) Select a certain number of patients with different degrees of sensorineural hearing loss as subjects. Insert a high signal-to-noise ratio probe microphone into the ear canal of each subject and put on soundproof headphones at the entrance of both ear canals. Excite the forehead with a short pure tone with a high input voltage level through a bone resonator. Measure the transient response emission signal sound pressure level of the left and right ears respectively, and take the larger value as the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi of the better ear. Step S3) The forehead is stimulated by a bone vibrator, and soundproof headphones are put on at the entrances of both ear canals. The bone conduction hearing threshold is measured using an audiometer, and the frontal stimulation threshold HTi corresponding to the better ear is measured. Step S4) Establish a correlation between the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi corresponding to the better ear of each subject obtained in steps S2) and S3) and the corresponding prefrontal excitation threshold HTi; Step S5) Based on steps S1) and S4), calculate the correlation between the transient response emission signal sound pressure level Pi in the unilateral ear canal of each subject and the bone conduction hearing threshold of the ipsilateral mastoid process; Step 3) includes: Based on the transient response otoacoustic emission signal sound pressure levels PL and PR of the left and right ears measured in step 2), the true bone conduction thresholds of the left and right ears during forehead excitation are obtained from the association database of transient response otoacoustic emission signals and mastoid bone conduction thresholds as HTL and HTR, respectively. The true bone conduction thresholds for bilateral mastoid excitation are HTL+HT3 for the left ear and HTR+HT3 for the right ear.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer is positioned on the forehead of the subject. Step 2) specifically includes: when the subject's forehead is excited by a voltage level input through a bone resonator, the transient response otoacoustic emission signal sound pressure levels of the left and right ears are measured as PL and PR, respectively.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer is positioned on the forehead. The method further includes: Step 4) Cross-validate the bilateral mastoid bone conduction thresholds of the subject obtained in Step 3) using a subjective hearing test. If the difference is greater than 5 dB, the hearing test results in Step 3) are incorrect, and proceed to Step 1) for retesting.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transducer is positioned on the forehead. The subjective listening experiment specifically includes: The subject's forehead is excited by a bone vibrator to obtain the bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear. The forehead bone conduction hearing threshold is then calibrated to the mastoid bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear using the difference HT3. Wear soundproof headphones and add noise masking at the better ear. The hearing level of the masking noise is set as follows: the sum of the mastoid bone conduction threshold of the worse ear obtained in step 3) and the interaural attenuation of the soundproof headphones minus 5dB. At this time, measure the bone conduction threshold of the forehead to obtain the frontal stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear. Add HT3 to obtain the mastoid stimulation bone conduction threshold of the worse ear.

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