vendredi 21 juin 2013

A Brief Explanation Of Audiometers

By Lana Bray


There is an irony in the fact that the ability to hear isn't one that gets much attention until it starts to fade. New technology in industry and developments in the entertainment industry have led to a more marked degree of hearing loss in society than was previously the case. In assessing and repairing this trend of damage, audiometers play an important role.

Every day, people are routinely exposed to extremely loud sounds, whether as part of their employment or recreation. Examples are heavy industry and loud music in entertainment venues. This type of exposure can result in gradual hearing decay. Preventing this decay involves the measurement of a person's hearing, and audio measuring devices are used in this process of measurement.

Audiometers all work on the same principle. They produce a sound which is listened to by the person being tested. The volume and frequency of the test sound can be controlled, thereby providing a standard against which the person's hearing can be measured. The frequency or pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz) and the volume is measured in decibels (dB). Pitch describes how high or low a sound is. For example, a soprano singer achieves a high pitch, while a bass guitar plays at a low pitch. Volume measures the intensity of the sound.

The test's aim is to provide a numerical or mathematical diagnostic picture of the person's hearing situation. Usually, an audiometer will consist of earphones wired to a machine or a PC. As soon as the tester has determined the sensitivity of the person's hearing, a treatment plan or further course of action can be mapped out.

Of course, the audiometer needs to be adjusted so that the sounds it produces can be effectively controlled. This type of adjustment is called calibration, and it involves fine-tuning the machine so that the sounds it makes are genuinely pitched at the volume and frequency required. Calibration needs to be done on a regular basis for the machine to be reliably accurate.

There are several ways in which an audiometer gets put out of tune, such as incorrect handling of the equipment, an environmental temperature which is too high or too low, the equipment's age, and excessive use. Like a musical instrument, an audiometer is a sensitive piece of equipment. In order to operate with acceptable accuracy at all times, an audiometer should be re-calibrated every year.

There are basically two kinds of audiometer: the hardware and the software type. The hardware type consists of a device wired to a pair of earphones. The software type, on the other hand, is based on a computer program. Both have the same function. The key difference between the two is that software-based audiometers never need re-calibration because they are digitally programmed. They can also achieve a deeper level of accuracy because they are computerized. However, they are more tricky to deploy because of idiosyncratic factors unique to each PC and user.

In modern times, the level of noise in the everyday environment of the public is higher than it used to be. Audiometers have an important function in keeping this noise in check. They represent a key tool in the fight against hearing loss and aural damage.




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