Prototype Microprocessor Based Audiometer for Use by the CF (Canadian Forces) Medical Services for Periodic Hearing Tests.

摘要

This report describes a prototype microcomputer-based audiometer designed to demonstrate the potential of such technology for routine periodic hearing testing in the Canadian Forces (CF). Besides the microcomputer and its dual-disk drive, display screen and printer, the system is comprised of an interface box containing a crystal clock, frequency synthesizer, digital attenuator, electronic switch, audio amplifier, acoustic earphone calibrators, and patient-response interface circuitry. The threshold-detection paradigms are based on the modified Hughson and Westlake procedure. The associated software provides prompts to the technician for parameters and data for each patient (e.g., age, social insurance number (SIN), military occupation code (MOC), along with prompts during the testing if problems are encountered. After a test is completed, the patient's CF hearing category is computed and displayed on the screen audiogram form, and the test results are stored automatically in a disk file for future reference. Keywords: Threshold detection. (KR)