The H-Scan Test of visual Accommodation.

The H-scan is the human equivalent of the speedometer on a car, and tells how quickly the patient’s aging clock is running. The result is a functional age based on the relationship between the body’s biological and chronological ages. Because this is a test of the symptoms of accelerated aging on the macro level, warning signals can then be further examined through the lab tests. The tests of the H-Scan include: memory, auditory and visual reaction times, highest audible pitch, vibrotactile sensitivity, muscle movement time, movement times with decision making, lung function, and visual accommodation diopters.

DISCUSSION OF THE H-SCAN

Vibrometer for tactile sensitivity test.

This is a test of twelve biomarkers of aging. These are physiologic functions that seem to naturally deteriorate with age. The test involves four categories: motor, sensory, cognitive, and pulmonary function. In taking the test, you were compared against 2462 office workers and particularly against those of your own sex and age. The test may not have a great deal of validity as to the physiologic age that it assigns but it does give us at least a rough comparison. It may be more valuable as a baseline to compare for your one-year follow-up.




LOOKING AT THE RESULTS

• The first column is a numerical score that is for the internal use of the computer.
• The second column is your percentile score compared to people of your same sex and age, 50% is average.

1. Auditory Reaction Time. This is a test of how quickly you react to stimulus that you hear. In this test you are instructed to press and release button six depending on whether or not you can hear the tone through the headphones.
2. Highest Audible Pitch. As we age, our hearing declines particularly in the high frequencies. Measuring the highest frequency that we can hear is one way of measuring deterioration.
3. Vibrotactile Sensitivity. This test indicates how sensitive your touch is to the vibrating box that you hold in your hand.

Central module with circuits, LEDs, and push buttons

4. Visual Reaction Time. This test is combined with the fifth test, muscle movement time. In this test you hold your finger on button six, and when button one lights up; you switch as quickly as possible. Visual reaction time is how quickly you release button number six.
5. Muscle Movement Time. This test shows how quickly you hit button number one after you release button number six.
6. Lung Forced Vital Capacity. Basically, this tests lung volume. Deterioration in this test is related to restrictive lung disease.
7. Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second. Relates to the rate at which you are able to exhale. This test is affected by obstructive lung disease, which could be in the form or asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
8. Visual Reaction Time With Decision. This test is combined with the next test, muscle movement time with decision. The term decision is arbitrary and debatable. You simply have your finger on button six and a light comes on randomly over one of the other buttons to which you move your finger as quickly as possible. Again, reaction time is how quickly you release button number six.
9. Muscle Movement Time with Decision. This test measures how quickly you move to the lit button once you have released button number six.
10. Memory Length of Sequence. This test is simply how many numbers you can remember in sequence.
11. Alternate Button Tapping. Tests how quickly you can pass back and forth between buttons one and six.
12. Visual Accommodation in Diopters. This is used to measure the adaptability of the lens of your eye. The lens must expand and contract to alter between distant vision and near vision regardless of corrective lenses.