Holopsony
Holopson is an electronic computer-controlled hardware for use by therapists. It can make hearing tests and schedule treatments by modified music. One begins with a test that can work out the associated treatment. The course of treatment consists in doing a series of tests and treatments. One test and from one to four treatments can be carried out simultaneously.
Hearing test
For the hearing test, the patient hears some sinusoidal
pure sounds through headphones. The therapist controls every phase of
the test and records the patient's response with the help of a joystick.
The patient can control his test himself with his own joystick.
The complete hearing test includes
- the minimum hearing threshold for every tested frequency
- the response time (the time that a patient needs to respond to the starting or the stopping of the signal)
- the laterality (the difference between the left and right ears for each frequency)
- the selectivity (the ability to determine whether a given frequency is deeper or higher than another)
The test can be done through the air (by using headphones)
or through the bones (by using a vibrator).
The hearing tests can be saved and displayed on the screen with the corresponding
body parts. The testscan be compared ( They can be printed or transferred
to other therapists.
The choice of tested frequencies can be saved for all the patients while
it is also possible to save a choice specific to each patient.
The frequency base can be adjusted allowing testing within a twelfth of
an octave and even within a Hertz (from 31 Hz to 14,254 Hz)
The signal can be continuous or intermittent. The step during tests can
be defined. The test can be done either in physical mode, i.e constant
intensity for every frequency, or Fletcher mode (according to the usual
audiometric standard).
Treatment
For treatment sounds are issued from registered CD on hard
disk.They are modified in Holopson (filters, seesaw) before being reproduced
in headphones.
The filtering characteristics are controlled on the computer screen by
the therapist according to the patient's state and set for the most part
thanks to the hearing test.
All the frequencies are divided into 21 wavebands.
Low-pitched and high-pitched sounds are split around an adjustable commutation
frequency.
Each band is filtered, increased up to +20 dB, decreased up to -20 dB
and even totally filtered (bandcut).
The commutation period between low and high sounds can be defined : length,
random or determined mode, synchronous or asynchronous mode (between both
ears).
The test is displayed simultaneously in order to facilitate filter programming.
Each ear is treated differently since the test varies for each one.
The duration of the session, the choice of sources, the sound volume coming
out of the headphones can be set on the screen.
The HoloWin software itself includes an on-line help and can be largely
defined in order to facilitate its daily use by therapists. It allows
complete and efficient management of the patients' database. It includes
a tool that enables the calibration of audiometric headphones.
Applications
The Hearing Test solely gives many information: Ear pathologies
dued to ear infection, hearing traumas or circulatory disorders. Psychological
disorder spotted through a suffering organ itself disrupted because of
a corresponding emotional difficulty. Communication disorders linked to
a bad hearing and the related learning disabilities in the mother and
foreign tongues; schooling problems. Child behaviour disorders related
to an unfitness to his environment and to psychological difficulties.
Adult disorders in communication and behaviour.
The sessions result in erasing the peaks and hollows: it is as if the knots tied in life were being untied, thus raising to consciousness events that had been hard to come to terms with and liberating numerous tensions to finally reach calm and serenity. Developed to improve health troubles such as depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, tetany, allergies (e.g. asthma, eczema,…)and every emotional problem, the technique has turned out to be very efficient as far as school and behaviour troubles were concerned. It also favors learning. By harmonizing and stimulating listening, it opens up the ear to foreign languages, it favors communication and limits brain ageing. It has become a personal development tool by enhancing mental, intellectual, rational, intuitive and creative capacities.