VISAUDIO: a Windows software application for Bekesy audiogram analysis and hearing research

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Medical Informatics
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Hearing research and epidemiological surveys require robust data processing tools.
• Military contexts necessitate specialized audiological assessment for personnel.
• Existing software may lack integrated analysis and classification features for audiograms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a Windows software system named VISAUDIO.
• To facilitate hearing research programs and decision-making in military epidemiological surveys.
• To provide advanced processing, analysis, and classification of audiometric data.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Windows-based software system (VISAUDIO).
• Implementation of graphical audiogram displays with processing results (smoothing, pattern detection).
• Calculation of classical French ORL indexes and audiometric pattern classification using discriminant factorial analysis.

Main Results:

• VISAUDIO offers graphical displays of audiograms with pathological pattern analysis (scotomas, recruitments).
• It calculates key French occupational medicine indexes (Index 42, PAM, IPA, IRB).
• The software enables audiogram comparison and data export to other Windows applications.

Conclusions:

• VISAUDIO serves as a prototype for a quasi real-time audiological information system.
• The software enhances the analysis and management of hearing data in military settings.
• It supports decision-making for hearing research and occupational health surveillance.