Models, Functions And Design Of An Audiometer

By Alyssa McCall


An audiometer is an instrument used to measure the hearing loss of an individual. The hearing loss of an individual needs to be determined in order for one to receive the right type of medication for their problem. These devices consist of a hardware that could be connected to headphones and are usually under the control of a standard PC. There are software devices as well as hardware ones.

An example of the software AM is the Screening PC Based AM that only uses a standard computer. This can be owned and run by anyone in their homes to check their hearing. Their accuracy however is not very good because they lack a standard for calibration. Some of these screening PC based devices can be found on a hand held device that is windows driven.

Clinical PC Based devices are the next examples, and they are comparatively more expensive than the Screening PC Based hearing devices, a software based device. Their efficiency is much better that that of the software device that we know of. They are used in hospitals, research centres and audiometric centres by the professional doctors. The accuracy of their calibrators is also good compared to the hardware devices.

There rare different types of hearing devices with different modifications in the market. The clinical Astera one is an example and it is PC based. The PC based Auricle one is another example. It uses batteries I its operation and has proved to be extra accurate. We also have the Midimate audiometers that are stand alone in other words they are not PC based. The audiometric process uses air, bone and speech.

The other one is the Itera II devices. They are hybrid which means that they are bot PC based and stand alone. The whole diagnostic process is done by these machines. Using it in the test session is very simple. The Xeta devices are a different type that have easy portability and are hybrid too. They are referred to as fast, flexible and efficient. Micro mate device is another type that is hybrid and simple for then test to be done and helps the patient to keep in contact.

The devices calibration should be checked time after time so as to ensure that the stimulus level is the same as that shown on the display. Acoustical checking of the audiometer is mainly practised by countries as the US. The American Standards Specification for Audiometers is the one that sets the method to be used in dong this.

If one intends to get their hearing loss, then they have to ensure that accuracy of their calibration is very high so as to get efficient results. If there are complications associated with the calibrations, it is an implication that in case of any treatment, then it will be wrong because of the wrong calibration.

In conclusion, audiometers are instruments used by professionals in say hospitals, but there are others that could be used domestically by people who would like to observe their hearing loss. Different audiometers are in existence as clearly listed. Their performance is determined mainly by the accuracy of their calibration.




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