Method and apparatus for conducting audiometric tests

Claim 1

In a device for use in conducting audiometric tests on a subject: record means bearing recorded signals, transcriber means including a frame adapted to receive said record means and including reading means operable to read the signals carried by a record means in said frame upon movement of the record means relative to the said reading means, said transcriber means including drive means for driving a said record means in said frame relative to said reading means, said transcriber means also including transducer means comprising an earphone for each ear of a subject under test and operable to convert the signals read from said record means by said reading means to acoustic air borne signals including a first set of acoustic signals in the form of spoken sounds and a second set of acoustic signals in the form of noise of a selected environmental type, at least some of said noise falling within the audible range, and selector means operatively connected to said earphones and selectively operable for causing the supplying of each of said first and second sets of acoustic signals to either one or both of the said earphones, adjustable means for selectively adjusting the amplitude level of said first and second sets of acoustic signals independently, said record means comprising support means receivable by said frame and record element means contained within said support means, said drive means being adapted for operatively engaging and driving said record element means in a single predetermined direction only relative to said support means, and continuously effective control means operatively disposed between said record element means and the said support means and preventing movement of said record element means relative to said support means in a direction other than said single predetermined direction when said drive means is operatively engAged with said record means, said control means adapted to be made ineffective only by means of a special tool thereby to prevent resetting of said record element means by other than an authorized person.

Claim 5

The method of performing audiometric tests on a subject which comprises: developing a first set of signals in the form of identifiable chronologically spaced phonic sounds and a second set of signals in the form of environmental noise which is normal in a predetermined situation, at least a part of said noise falling within the audible range, said noise being that noise in the presence of which it is desired to determine the hearing acuity of the subject, supplying said first set of signals via earphone means to at least one ear of the subject under test while simultaneously supplying said second set of signals via earphone means to at least one ear of the subject under test, varying the relative amplitudes of the respective said first and second sets of signals, and determining the hearing acuity of the subject by the number of individual signals of said first set of signals which are correctly identified by the subject during a single test cycle in which said second set of signals are supplied continuously and said first set of signals are supplied in succession and one time only.

Claim 6

The method of performing audiometric tests on a subject which comprises: developing a first set of signals in the form of identifiable chronologically spaced phonic sounds and a second set of signals in the form of environmental noise which is normal in a predetermined situation, at least a part of said noise falling within the audible range, said noise being that noise in the presence of which it is desired to determine the hearing acuity of the subject, supplying said first set of signals via earphone means to at least one ear of the subject under test while simultaneously supplying said second set of signals via earphone means to at least one ear of the subject under test, varying the relative amplitudes of the respective said first and second sets of signals, and determining the hearing acuity of the subject by the number of individual signals of said first set of signals which are correctly identified by the subject during a single test cycle in which said second set of signals are supplied continuously and said first set of signals are supplied in succession and one time only.