Sunday, December 22, 2013

A Look Into The Features Of An Audiometer

By Tiffany Gill


An audiometer is a medical device found in most clinics, hospitals and audiology centers. Its use is to determine the hearing loss intensity of patients. Generally, the device can be used by E. N. T specialist in diagnosing various problems. The standard measurement unit for this device is the decibel. It is a unit which is universally accepted to measure the intensity of sound.

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 simple graph showing the intensity of the sound in decibels versus the frequency in hertz. It gives a representation of the audible threshold of a patient under test exactly as it is being measured by the audiometer. When constructing an audiogram, the specialist takes into consideration the fundamental frequencies, as they must be included the audiometer readings. Normally, a range of 100HZ to 8000Hz is considered to be the range in which an audiogram can be constructed.

There are two types of audiometers found in the market. These are the hardware and the software types. The two types are closely related though they vary in cost and efficiency. The software type is not very sophisticated. It is the one found in several homes as it is easier to use. It only requires a computer program to display its results.

Hardware devices on the other contain an embedded unit which is connected next to the headphones. This unit is linked with a special button which gives feedback signal to the device during operation. This device is relatively expensive than the software type as it gives results of higher accuracy. They are very efficient in hearing loss tests.

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.

If the patient under test is an adult, then the hearing loss analysis is very easy. They will be instructed to press the feedback button whenever they hear the audio. For children, it is very different. Only their reaction in whatever manner is required. The kid can be instructed to press a toy whenever they hear the audio. The frequency is then noted down.

Hearing loss problems are not suffered by human beings. Animals do also suffer from this problem. An audiometer is still the device veterinary doctors determining the hearing capabilities of animals. The animals are trained to respond to the sound through several practices like providing them with food, water e. T. C whenever they react to such audio frequencies.




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