Hearing Test Apparatus Binary Search Threshold Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing test methods are inefficient in measuring auditory thresholds, leading to longer test durations, reduced attention span, and potential inaccuracies due to varying sound pressure levels and prediction of test sounds.
Innovation Solution
A binary search approach is employed to rapidly determine auditory thresholds by narrowing the auditory threshold presence probability space, where test frequencies and sound pressures are selected randomly, and the test sound pressure zone is redefined based on user responses, reducing the test time and increasing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional hearing test methods (descending or ascending approach) are used to measure auditory threshold, then all sound pressure levels up to the auditory threshold are offered to the user, but the test duration becomes much longer
Solution Approach 1:
The test sound pressure range is segmented into multiple discrete levels rather than testing all sound pressure levels continuously. The binary search method divides the search space into segments, testing only critical boundary levels to determine the auditory threshold, thereby reducing the number of test sounds while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of offering all sound pressure levels from high to low (descending) or low to high (ascending), the invention inverts the approach by using a binary search strategy that jumps to intermediate levels and narrows down the threshold through iterative halving of the search space, significantly reducing test duration.
2Ease of operation
If ascent or descent by a uniform difference in sound pressure is used during test, then the test process is simplified, but the user can predict the next test sound and thus create an illusion as if he or she had heard a sound
Solution Approach 1:
The sound pressure increment/difference is made dynamic rather than uniform. The binary search method adjusts the sound pressure levels adaptively based on previous test results, changing the step size dynamically to converge on the auditory threshold, which prevents user prediction while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The test system uses feedback from user responses to adjust subsequent sound pressure levels. Based on whether the user hears or misses a sound, the system dynamically determines the next test level, preventing predictable patterns while keeping the test process straightforward for the user.
3Loss of time
If the grouping approach is used to output some sets of test sounds, then the test duration is relatively shortened, but since all test sounds have to be heard, the user's attention span is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the critical test sounds needed to determine the auditory threshold using binary search, rather than requiring the user to hear all test sounds in a grouping approach. This reduces the total number of sounds to a minimum necessary set, shortening test duration while maintaining user attention through varied, non-repetitive stimulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing test method and apparatus are provided for improving a measuring accuracy and a test speed in finding the auditory threshold that is the audibility limit of discriminating a sound. In the method, after outputting a test sound relevant to a selected test frequency and a selected test sound pressure, the apparatus determines whether a user hears the test sound, then the test sound pressure zone is divided into an auditory threshold presence region and an auditory threshold absence region according to the result of determination. Thereafter, the test sound pressure zone is redefined using the auditory threshold presence region and this process of hearing test is repeated using the redefined test sound pressure zone to finally determine an auditory threshold for the selected test frequency.