Composite Pure-Tone Hearing Testing for Faster Threshold Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing testing techniques require prolonged testing times, often leading to user fatigue and inaccurate results due to the need for repeated responses to multiple pure tones, especially when using mobile apps that do not fully assess hearing across various frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A hearing testing system and method that allows users to generate a single test response to a plurality of pure tones with varying decibels or frequencies, reducing testing time and minimizing fatigue through adaptive intensity-level adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pure tone audiometry is performed with multiple single pure tones at different frequencies and intensity levels, then measurement precision of hearing status is improved, but loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple single pure tones with different frequencies and intensity levels into a composite test sound that contains multiple frequency components. Instead of testing each frequency separately, the system plays the composite sound and uses FFT analysis to determine hearing thresholds across multiple frequencies simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and testing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The test sound in this patent serves multiple functions: it contains multiple frequency components that can assess hearing across different frequency ranges, and its intensity can be adjusted to evaluate hearing thresholds at different levels. This multi-functionality allows a single test sound to replace multiple separate pure tone tests, reducing testing time while maintaining comprehensive hearing assessment.
2Measurement precision
If multiple single pure tones are played to test hearing at different frequencies, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for professional assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service hearing testing by automatically generating composite test sounds with multiple frequency components, automatically analyzing the user's responses through FFT analysis, and automatically determining hearing thresholds without requiring professional intervention. This automation reduces device complexity from the user's perspective while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of a professional adjusting frequencies and recording responses with an automated digital system that uses signal processing (FFT analysis) to automatically determine hearing thresholds. This substitution eliminates the need for professional assistance while preserving measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If testing time is extended to cover complete hearing assessment at multiple frequencies, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to user fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple frequency tests into a single composite test sound presentation, the system achieves complete hearing assessment in one testing session rather than requiring multiple separate tests. This reduces testing time and prevents user fatigue while maintaining comprehensive hearing evaluation across all frequencies.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a hearing testing system and method, the hearing testing system includes a playback module and a detection module. The playback module includes an intensity-level adjustment module connecting to a player for setting the intensity level of a test sound, and the player plays the test sound to a test ear of a user. The test sound includes a plurality of pure tones having different decibels or frequencies. The detection module is in communication with the playback module, and the user generates a single test response corresponding to the plurality of pure tones having different decibels or frequencies. The test response is that the user inputs the number of pure tones heard into the detection module.