MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

(MUMBAI)
A
Project Report
On
“PREPARE AUDIOMETER”
Submitted by:-
Name Enrolment No Seat No
1. Sonawane Gauri K
2. Gorde Pratik
3. Khomane Rohit

Guided by:-Miss.Ghodake.
Department of Medicle Electronics Engineering
Hon. Shri. Babanrao Pachpute Vichardhara Trust’s
PARIKRAMA POLYTECHNIC, KASHTI (2019-2020)
 Hon. Shri Babanrao Pachpute Vichardhara Trust’s
PARIKRAMA POLYTECHNIC, KASHTI
Kashti, Tal- Shrigonda, Dist- Ahmednagar 414701
(Approved by AICTE New Delhi, Affiliated to MSBTE Mumbai)

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project work entitled

“PREPARE AUDIOMETER”

Is Bonafide work carried out by

Date: ____________ Exam Seat No_______________

Subject Teacher Head of Dept. Principal

Sr.
Content Page No.
No.
1 Introduction 1
2 Aim 1
3 Course Outcome 1
4 Procedure Following 2
5 Output 5
6 Learning from micro-project 6
7 Conclusion 6
8 References 7

INTRODUCTION :
An audiometer is a machine used for evaluating hearing acuity. They usually consist of an
embedded hardware unit connected to a pair of headphones and a test subject feedback button,
sometimes controlled by a standard PC. Such systems can also be used with bone vibrators, to
test conductive hearing mechanisms.
Audiometers are standard equipment at  (ear, nose, throat) clinics and in audiology centers. An
alternative to hardware audiometers are software audiometers, which are available in many
different configurations. Screening PC-based audiometers use a standard computer. Clinical PC-
based audiometers are generally more expensive than software audiometers, but are much more
accurate and efficient. They are most commonly used in hospitals, audiology centers and
research communities. These audiometers are also used to conduct industrial audiometric testing.
Some audiometers even provide a software developer's kit that provides researchers with the
capability to create their own diagnostic tests.

AIM:-
Prepare A Audiometer

COURCE OUTCOMES:
1. USE THE AUDIOMETER
2. USE THE RESPIRATION METER

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
OPERATION:

An audiometer consists of four parts. These parts are the oscillator (used to change the frequency
of sounds heard), an audio amplifier, an attenuator (used to control volume loudness), and a pair
of headphones. The person being tested wears the headphones. The amplitude of a tone is slowly
increased until the person hears the sound. The lowest decibel level at which a sound is heard is
called the threshold. The oscillator is used to change pitch so a range of sounds can be tested.
When manufacturing audiometers and performing audiometer testing, care is taken to eliminate
background noise.

The result of a hearing test using an audiometer is called an audiogram. The audiogram is a
graph that shows the lowest decibel level at which each frequency is heard. The graph gives a
profile of the person's threshold of hearing. It compares the profile to a line representing normal
hearing in order to detect hearing loss. Using the audiometer, frequency is varied from 64 hertz
to over 8,000 hertz. Amplitude can be varied in five decibel increments. In addition to pure
tones, speech sounds are sometimes used as test signals. Hearing is considered good if every tone
sounded between 64 and 8,192 hertz is heard at a volume of 20 decibels. Hearing loss is
generally greatest at the high frequencies. This seems to occur in many people over fifty.

In this technique, at the outset, patient is instructed to signal the audiologist each time a tone is
perceived. A variety of response signals may be employed - responding "yes" with each tone,
tapping the rhythm of tones, or pointing to the ear where the tone is heard, or better by a
response switch. For air conduction thresholds, earphones are comfortably positioned and the
better ear tested first, if known. If not known, some audiologists will quickly screen each ear
using the same initial frequency and the better ear tentatively determined. Tones are often
presented in an ascending series, that is, from low to high frequency [8]. Initially a single
frequency stimulus at some presumed level is presented to the patient. Initially a pure tone of 30
dB HL is presented to the subject. If the response is positive, the tone level is decreased in steps
of 10 dB till the patient does not give response. On the other hand, after applying 30 dB tone at
first time, if the patient does not hear it, the level is raised in steps of 10 dB step until it is heard
for first time. Once, the response is positive, the tone is decreased by 10 dB. If the patient hears
this tone, the tone is again decreased by 5 dB. If the patient does not hear it, the tone is again
raised by 5 dB. In this way by several presentations, the hearing threshold is obtained. Often,
tone intensities slightly above and below this auditory threshold are tested to verify and help
"hone in" on the precise threshold value. The minimum presentation level at which the subject
responds at least 50% times (3 responses out of 6 tone presentations), is taken as the hearing
threshold. Specific situations are as follows. If profound hearing loss is expected, frequencies
from 125-500 Hz are tested first (some audiologists screen initially at 500 Hz then skip to 4000
Hz, if normal hearing expected). If a tone is not audible even at maximum audiometer output,
"no response" is recorded [8]. If 100% correct response occurs at a minimal intensity, testing
below 0 dB is possible. Thus, certain individuals may demonstrate greater hearing sensitivity and
thresholds down to -20 dB are measurable. The results of the audiometry are reported in an
audiogram. Different shapes of audiograms are associated with different types of hearing loss
[1]. When prescribing hearing aids the audiogram will guide the degree of amplification required
at various frequencies. For site of lesion testing, "conductive" loss implies a lesion in the external
auditory meatus, tympanic membrane, and/or middle ear. "Sensorineural" loss usually implies a
lesion in the cochlea or acoustic nerve (cranial nerve VII), but not the cortex. With most cases of
sensorineural loss, both AC and BC are significantly impaired and hearing loss is more
pronounced as the frequency increases. "Central" hearing loss refers to a lesion in the brainstem
or auditory cortex. This cannot be adequately evaluated by pure tone audiometry [8].
"Nonorganic" hearing loss implies an intact auditory circuit with deafness due to other factors
(e.g., malingering, psychosis). Otosclerosis and chronic otoitis media result in a mixed
conduction and sensorineural deafness [9]. There is a marked decrease in sensitivity for AC
thresholds with BC relatively spared. Both low and high frequencies are equally impaired in this
case. If a large mass component is playing a role (e.g., serous otitis media), thresholds may be
more impaired at higher frequencies. If conductive loss is due to stiffness of the stapes (e.g.,
early otosclerosis), AC thresholds may be preferentially elevated at lower frequencies.
Presbycusis is the loss of high frequency sensitivity with age [9]. There is a constant loss of
sensitivity for AC and BC, steadily worsening from low to high frequency. This pattern is often
seen with the normal aging process.

A. Input:-
The function generator is used for generation of pure tone which will be the input signal for the circuit.
The input range given to the circuit is about 5V and 3 KHz of sinusoidal signal. The input from the
function generator is given to the audio amplifier circuit. The audio amplifiers can able to filter the output
response of the function generator by varying the different attributes by Nominal Gain Bandwidth (22 Hz,
20 kHz, 300 kHz,…), Gain (0 dB, 20 dB, 26 dB, 30 dB, 36 dB, 48 dB,…) and Output Power (27 mW to
200 W). LM386 Audio amplifier is not a minimal component audio amplifier. It consists of extra
capacitors to reduce the noise in the audio signal. The LM386 is quite a versatile chip. Only a couple
resistors and capacitors are needed to make a working of audio amplifier. The actual output power will
depend on supply voltage and speaker impedance. In an amplifier circuit, the LM386 takes an audio input
signal and increases its potential anywhere from 20 to 200 times. This is known as the voltage gain.

B. LabVIEW Environment:-
The process of decision making is done in the LabVIEW environment. The input is taken from the
patient response switch. According to the response from the values of dB will be incremented or
decremented using the arduino which is programmed. An audiogram is a graph that shows the audible
threshold for standardized frequencies and intensities. The Y axis represents intensity measured in
decibels (dB) and the X axis represents frequency measured in hertz (Hz). Each ear will be tested
individually. When you hear a tone, the patient will press a button. Then the test results illustrated as a
graph shows the hearing threshold of the patient, i.e. the softest sounds are able to hear at different
frequencies (Hz).With the help of patient response the audiogram is plotted automatically by the decision
making.

C. User :-
The headphone used in our project is SONY MDR XD 450. The headphone has unique specifications
with deep clear audio with an extended frequency range. The earpads provide wrap-around comfort with
an improved acoustic seal. With the balanced rigidity and high response extra diaphragm, which
maintains powerful performance through hours of listening and it also delivers powerful sound directly.
When the patient hears the beep sound they will respond through this switch. The switch turns on which
is binary in nature. This sends logic 1 value that is made as a variable in LabVIEW based on which the
intensities and frequencies are varied automatically in LabVIEW which is the function of decision
making block. Pure tone is transmitted to the ear through an earphone and measuring the lowest intensity
in decibels (dB) at which this tone is perceived 50% of the time. This measurement is called threshold.
The testing procedure is repeated at specific frequencies from 250 to 8000 hertz (Hz, or cycles per
second) for each ear, and the thresholds are recorded on a graph called an audiogram. If the subject hears
the sound during the testing sequence, a button on the user interface is pressed. The test is run three times
for each of the predefined frequencies and intensity and the final value is their mean value, which
represents the points on the final audiogram. After completing the test, the ―STOP‖ button is pressed and
the audiogram for the tested ear is generated.

OUTPUT:-
LEARNING FROM MICRO PROJECT:-
Thus the implementation of the audiogram for evaluating the amount of hearing loss was successfully
implemented in the LabVIEW environment with the help of remote and headphones. The pure tone of
different frequencies and intensities are generated by the frequency and intensity varying circuit. The
generated sound is transmitted to the headphones of the subject. Based on response of the subject, the
intensity and the frequency ranges may be increase or decrease. The response of the subject can be done
by the remote controller and it is interfaced with the LabVIEW via DAQ. The audiogram is plotted in the
LabVIEW based on the response of the subject.Test results can be acquired in a short time. This test can
be performed almost anywhere with the availability of a PC.

CONCLUSION:-
An audiometer typically transmits recorded sound such as pure tones to the headphones of the test subject
at varying frequencies and intensities and records the subject's responses to produce an audiogram of
threshold sensitivity. Based on the response of patient automatic audiogram is plotted between different
frequency and intensity.The patient can run the test individually and can send the results to the specialized
medical personnel for qualified interpretation

REFERENCE:-
[1] ―Digital Medical Audiometer‖ by Dan IUDEAN, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Mediamira
Science Publisher , Acta Electro Technica China Academic Journal, Romania-2014

[2] ―Using LabVIEW to Design and Develop A Hearing Loss Calibration system‖ by Er Poi Voon
,National University of Singapore -2015

[3] ―A Computer Based Digital Audiometer for Evaluating Hearing Loss‖ by S Leeudomwong – 2016

[4] ―Design of Smart Hearing aid‖ by V. Alan Immanuel Benjamin, International Journal of Electronics
and Communication Engineering and Technology (IJECET) Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December
2016, pp. 32–38, Article ID: IJECET_07_06_005

[5] ―A New Computer Controlled Graphic Audio Equalizer IC‖ by Mitchell Lee, IEEE Wireless
Communications, 30(4), 1984 , pp.

[6] ―Design and Implementation of an Audiometry System Capable of Monitoring Neuronal Activity
Related to the Patient's Hearing‖ by A. Soto Otálora, ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
VOL. 10, NO. 4, March 2015