A Look Into The Features Of An Audiometer

By Tiffany Gill


An Audiometer is a special device which is used in evaluating hearing loss problems. Moreover, this device is used in in the general diagnosis of ENT problems. The instrument is uniquely calibrated to capture the exact data during hearing loss evaluation. The calibration is done in decibels as they are the standard units for measuring the intensity of sound. Calibration of this device needs to be done on regular basis. Doing this ensures that it gives error free results. Moreover, a good calibrated device will always give consistent results which can be trusted in analyzing hearing loss intensity of a patient.

The device resembles a pair of headphones but is fitted with a feedback button which is controlled by a computer. The computer helps the specialist conducting the hearing loss analysis to display the data which is eventually used to form an audiogram. This audiogram is the one used to analyze the range through which a patient can react to given sound frequency.

An audiogram is basically a graph of the intensity of the sound in decibels against the reaction frequency in hertz. This graph is drawn with the aid of a computer. The graph will then be analyzed carefully by a medical specialist to determine at what range the patient is able to react to the sound frequencies. This will guide the specialist in administering treatment to the patient.

There exist two types of audiometers. They are the software and the hardware type. The software type is also called the digital audiometers. Such devices use computer software in their operation. They are mostly used by speech therapists in educational institutions to guide students with hearing capabilities.

On the other hand, the hardware type comes with an embedded unit which is inclusive of a feedback button and a pair of headphones. The button gives signals back to the embedded unit as received from the patient. The pair of headphones is used to shield the patient from external noises during test this data is then fed to a special PC to produce an audiogram. This audiometer is expensive when compared to the software type.

The overall procedure of identifying a hearing loss problem is not complex as you might think. With this device, it is very easy.it only entails the patient being subjected to an audio from the device then their reaction at different frequencies being noted. These different frequencies give a range of the hearing capabilities of the patient. The range aid the medical specialist in treating such a patient.

An adult person will show a reaction to certain frequencies by pressing a button which is usually embedded to the device. For small children, their reaction is normally different. Their response can be a head turn or by pressing a toy which is usually provided during the test.

This hearing loss test using an audiometer can also be extended to animals. Vet doctors have devised unique ways to make sure that animals do respond to various frequencies. For instance they can provide food to the animal as way of rewarding it for responding to a certain frequency. The animal will be trained to understand that its response to a given frequency usually means food and therefore the doctor will be able to record down the range through which the animal can respond to different frequencies.




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