Online hearing test Lullenstyd Audiology :

Transcription

1 Online hearing test Lullenstyd Audiology : Éva Keresztessy ELTE Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Education Department of Hearing Impairment, H-1093 Budapest, Ecseri út 3, Hungary, keva@barczi.elte.hu, József Tallér University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6. Hungary, lullenstyd@interware.hu The Lullenstyd-Audiology is a program package available through Internet. It has two main functions: presenting the process of hearing and hearing impairments, testing and diagnosing the hearing impairments. The site has been devised in three languages so far; in English, Italian and Hungarian, that is, the written text and the text of the hearing test are available in all three languages. The presentation part of the program includes an introduction to the bases of acoustics, the process of hearing, the types and reasons of hearing impairments, as well as, the presentation of hearing tests. All this takes place illustrated with several animations and explanations. During the hearing test the users will have a unique opportunity to have their hearing tested through the Internet. 1 General Guide The web site, which is made in Flash, presents the process of hearing and the impairments of hearing. The presentations utilize the advantages of multimedia: the descriptions and explanations are supplemented with several interactive animations and sound effects. Increasing numbers of the deaf and the hearing impaired turn to the Internet as one of the most significant media. The texts and pictures put on the Internet may be more easily understood for them than those on television where the sound and speech also plays considerable part of the information conveyed. The site presents the material connected to the topic grouped and in an easily accessible way. In addition to the presentation of the topic the site provides the opportunity to have a unique online hearing test using various examination methods. In other words, visitors to the site can test whether they have hearing impairment or to what extent they have that. Several of the hearing impaired delay the hearing test because it takes such a long time. The results of the online hearing test may warn them that it is high time they asked for the assistance of the specialist, let it be with the aim of therapeutic or prevention purposes. The site also excels in the early recognition of the hearing impairment. Several people suspect that they have some problem with their hearing but they do not dare see a specialist, as they fear their suspicion will be justified. The online hearing test can be carried out easily at home by anybody. In case this test justifies their suspicion it may lead them to find a specialist. Thus the site tries to impede the development of the disadvantageous situation of the hearing impaired, as well as, to reduce their unfavourable position. The site has been devised in three languages so far; in English, Italian and Hungarian, that is, the written text and the text of the hearing test are available in all three languages. 2 Technical guide The size of the Flash sides is smaller than 800x600 pixel so to view the site a monitor with such parameters is enough. The resolution of a better monitor is recommended to be adjusted to the given size so that the pages fill the screen. The site contains several sound effects and test sounds for the hearing tests. It is recommended to use high quality loudspeakers or headphone to be able to enjoy and carry out the tests successfully. Before opening the site the volume should be adjusted to middle level that can be heard clearly. 3 Structure and Use of the Site 3.1 Opening page The viewing of the site can be started the usual way, that is, with opening the page in the web-browser. L 7

2 There is an introductory animation appearing on the opening page of the site. If it cannot be seen it means that Flash5 plug in is not installed in the browser. In such a case the plug in can be downloaded from the website of the producer Macromedia, which can be accessed through the link given on the opening page. The language of the site English, Italian or Hungarian - can also be selected on the opening page. one another. However, due to the logic and the structure of the information given, it is useful to follow the order as it is written in the main menu starting with The Sound and finishing off with The Measurement of Hearing. The structure and representation of the presentations are similar. The screen is always divided into three main parts: - the commentary texts can be read on the right side, - the illustrating animations can be seen in the top corner on the left side, - the first four menu entries of the presentations from the main menu and the link to the main menu can be seen in the bottom corner on the left side. 3.2 Main menu After selecting the language, the main menu appears in a new window. This window does not contain the usual navigational buttons and text input field of the browser as the means of navigation, the necessary details of the menu and the buttons can be found on the actual pages. In accordance with the double function of the site, that is the presentation and the hearing test, the main menu is divided in two parts. The first four entries, The Sound, The Hearing, The Impairments of Hearing and The Measurement of Hearing, provide the presentation pages, and the second four entries, The Questionnaire, The Hearing Test, Speech Recognition and Noise Recognition, each provide the opportunity for a hearing test. 3.3 Presentations To get acquainted with the site it is suggested that the viewer start with the first four menu entries, that is with the presentations. The four presentations can be understood individually as their content is not built on The pages of the text field on the right can be turned with the help of the flaps at the top on the right. Similarly, the pages of the animation belonging to the given presentation can be turned with the help of the flaps on the right of the animation window. Each presentation contains two text fields and four animations. To get to know the site completely it is recommended to read all the texts and have a look at all the animations in the order given by the flaps from top to the bottom. (Navigating through the site let it be turning the pages with the flaps or choosing a new menu entry is only possible when the actual animation is fully downloaded into the memory. The flaps and the menu entries can be used only when it is completed. Full access can be reached when the download diagram disappears from the animation window and the entire animation can be seen clearly.) Certain words and phrases appear highlighted in the commentary texts. If we position the cursor on one of them an indicating line appears that points at the part of the animation that belongs to the phrase. In such cases the corresponding animation detail is often shown highlighted, with a different colour. It is worthy finding the active details in the animation with the cursor as when having found them the colour of the active animation detail changes or new details can be seen. (Similarly to the flaps and the menu entries, the highlighted phrases and active animation details can be used only when the actual animation is fully downloaded into the memory.) L 8

3 During the presentations, as well as, already during the main menu, there is a constant background noise. On one hand, the functioning of the sound card and the loudspeakers can be checked, on the other, it also has its role in the illustration. In case the presentation or the animation have their own sound effects the background noise diminishes and the corresponding sounds are heard. The topics of the four presentations and the animations belonging to them: The Sound Presenting the origins of the sound, what pitch and volume means, the concepts of hearing threshold, hearing range and speech range The Impairments of Hearing The types and causes of the hearing impairment. Sound formation the connection between frequency and pitch, and amplitude and volume; frequency amplitude diagram illustrated with sound effects. Hearing range different sounds and noises illustrated on the frequency amplitude diagram Speech range the speech sounds illustrated on the frequency amplitude diagram Hearing impairment the extent of the hearing impairment illustrated on the frequency amplitude diagram The Hearing The process of hearing, the functioning of the hearing organ. Parts of the ear parts of the entire ear and their functioning Middle ear parts of the middle ear and their functioning Cochlea the functioning of the cochlea Hair cell the functioning of the hair cells Auditory meatus Middle ear Cochlea Hearing nerve the auditory meatus the middle ear the cochlea the hearing nerve The Measurement of Hearing The methods and means of the measurement, the results of the measurement indicated in the audiogram. Audiometer means of the measurement of hearing Audiogram the concept of hearing threshold, the structure of the audiogram, conventional signs in the audiogram L 9

4 Conductive loss the characteristics of conductive hearing impairment indicated in the audiogram Sensory-neural loss the characteristics of sensoryneural hearing impairment indicated in the audiogram Questionnaire 3.4 Hearing Test The second four entries of the main menu each provide opportunity for a hearing test. The screen outlay of the tests is similar to that of the presentations. Now the instructions for the tests can be read in the text field on the right, and having completed the test the evaluation also appears here. The questions and alternative answers of the given test can be read in the animation window in the top corner on the left, and the answers to the questions should be selected here, as well. (The text field and the animation window cannot be turned in case of the hearing tests.) The second four entries of the main menu, the four hearing tests, and the link to the main menu can be found in the bottom corner on the left. It is also recommended to accomplish the hearing tests in the order given in the menu, that is starting with the Questionnaire and finishing off with the Noise Recognition. The certain hearing test can be started only when the animation belonging to it is fully downloaded to the memory. New menu entry can only be selected after complete download. During some hearing tests the already known background noise can be heard, however, it is mostly replaced by the sound effects necessary for carrying out the tests. There are 24 statements appearing in the animation window one after the other. The user has to indicate on the line of buttons seen at the bottom of the animation window how much the given statements are true for him/her: always, almost always, often, generally, sometimes, rarely, never. To make the decision easier, values given in percentage are also written on the buttons. Having chosen the answer, the next statement appears, and having answered all the 24 questions the evaluation of the hearing test can be read in the text field on the right Hearing Test The test begins with a preparatory phase. After clicking on the Start button in the animation window, a continuous pitch sound is heard. The user has to move the handle of the cup seen in the animation window to the left and/or right so that the volume is adjusted to the level where s/he can hardly hear the sound. Then actual hearing test starts. The methods of accomplishing the tests: Having clicked on the Start button a continuous pitch sound is heard. The user has to click on the corresponding button whether he hears the sound or not. In case s/he hears the sound another, higher pitch sound is heard, about which s/he also has to decide whether s/he hears it or not. It continues until the user hears the sound, or until the series of sounds ends. (To have reliable results the program may ask the user to repeat the test from adjusting the volume.) At the end of the test the evaluation can be read in the text field on the right. L 10

5 3.4.3 Speech Recognition Having clicked on the Start button a sensible word is heard (in the language selected on the opening page). The user has to choose the answer what the word is with clicking on one of the three buttons. Then new words are heard one after the other, altogether 12 of them, all of which should be recognized through the same process. Recognition is made difficult as the words are sounded in a noisy environment. Having given the 12 answers the evaluation appears in the text field on the right. The results of the four different types of hearing tests should be considered together and if they are not satisfactory the assistance of a specialist should be required. 3.5 Exit Closing the window containing Flash animations the opening page of the site can be seen again. (Selecting another language here, the large animation window opens again and the Flash pages can be viewed in the other language, as well.) Writing a new URL address in the text input field of the opening page we can finally exit the site, or closing the window of the opening page we may exit the browser. The user may complete the test again. The correct answers cannot be remembered as the site contains all the 36 pronounced words to which there are twelve times three possible correct answers. At every test the words uttered and the order of the three alternative answers are selected at random by the program Noise Recognition Having clicked on the Start button a distorted, modified sound is heard. The user has to choose the answer what the sound is with clicking on one of three buttons or choose the fourth with which s/he may indicate that s/he cannot hear the sound. Then new sounds are heard, altogether 12 of them, all of which should be recognized. (In certain reasonable cases the program does not believe that the user cannot hear the sound due to her/his hearing impairment. In such cases the test should be started again.) 4 Summary The deaf and the hearing impaired turn towards the Internet as one of the most important media in increasing numbers. The texts and pictures that appear there are easier to comprehend for them than the television where the sound and speech plays a more important role in giving information. There has been no web site so far that deals with their most important problem, that is their hearing impairment, in a comprehensive way. The Lullenstyd Audiology conveys the information in a collected form that is easily understood. The significance of the program can also be seen in the early detection of the hearing impairment. A great number of parents suspect that their children have hearing impairment but they dare not ask for the help of the expert as they fear their suspicion will be justified. In case this test helps them to make the decision to take their children to see the specialist it is worthy. Having given the 12 answers the evaluation can be read in the text field on the right. The test can be completed again. The correct answers cannot be remembered as the site contains not only 12 but 30 different distorted sounds. At every test the program selects which sounds are heard and in what order at random. The simplicity of the test may help not only the children but also any age group. A lot of hearing impaired postpone the hearing test because it takes such a long time. With the help of the online test the degree of the hearing impairment can be measured at anytime and the program may call the attention of the user to contact a specialist if it is of utmost necessity. L 11