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 audiometer resembles a pair of headphones. It is connected to a computer which controls its operation. A special button, which gives feedback signals as received from the patient, is also embedded in the device. During operation, the response of a patient to different frequencies is displayed in the computer which is subsequently used to plot an audiogram. The audiogram is keenly analyzed to determine the range which a patient can react to different sound frequencies.

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 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.

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 hearing loss procedure is diagnosed by presenting a patient with a sound from the audiometer but being varied in frequency. Their reactions to this sound of different frequencies will be noted down. It is these frequencies which are used to plot the audiogram. The medical specialist will then study the audiogram to determine the intensity of hearing loss of the 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.

An audiometer can also be used to diagnosis hearing problems in animals. Veterinary doctors do train the animals to react to these sound frequencies through different ways. They can train the animals to eat, raise special sound or behave anomaly whenever they hear such audio.




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