What You Need To Know About Audiometers

By Paula Barron


Audiometers are equipments used to identify hearing loss problems. In general these machines are encountered in specialized centers and audiology clinics. For the production of these equipments manufacturers have to meet the IEC60645, ISO 8253 and ANSI S3.6 requirements. Hearing testing equipment usually contains a hardware unit, a headset and a button that is used by the tested subject to provide feedback.

Nowadays these equipments are available in various formats and sizes, for all needs. Some audiometers are having a light weight, are running on batteries and are portable. The machines created for clinics and diagnostic centers are usually weighting more, but are more accurate and the information can be downloaded to computers. Another available category is the PC audiometers that can be easily used by people at home.

Audiology centers, hospitals and other specialized centers are using clinical audiometers that are complying with medical standards. Very popular are the software types, which are very easy to use and available with various features. With a normal computer and a specific driver, these equipments can be used by almost anyone at home. These equipments have become popular due to the accessible prices, even if the accuracy is not the maximum, as in the case of clinical equipments.

As it is very important that the measurements performed with audiometers are accurate, these have to be calibrated often. A regular calibration can help to identify hearing loss in early stages, and this is very important. The calibration procedure consists in making sure that the displayed level is identical with the subject's exact situation. No matter the clinic where the checking is performed, when machines are calibrated correctly, the results have to be all equal.

The calibration of these types of equipments is possible with the help of an audiometric calibration system. This system includes a microphone that will transmit information to a coupling volume, one side opened. Professional types are also measuring the bone conduction hearing, and for their calibration is used a mechanical coupler. This has the role to imitate the situation when the sound passes through the mastoid section of temporal bone.

Like any other machines, the parts of these equipments are liable to drift after a period of use. In order to assure a high level of accuracy, these hearing measurement equipments have to be calibrated in proper conditions. Only specialists have the ability to perform this sensitive procedure. It is also important that the measurements are made only in specialized laboratories.

Manufacturers are now producing audiometers with multiple features, very useful when these equipments are used at home. For example these are now available with color touch screen, and are coming with user-defined data fields. Multiple languages are also available, as well as high storage capacities to store, synchronize and back-up information.

As conclusion, the utilization of proper equipments can be crucial for the identification of hearing loss problems. For this reason the first hearing check should be performed with the utilization of clinic audiometers, in specialized centers. Only this way a correct diagnosis and a proper treatment can be assured.




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