An Audiometer Is A Helpful Device

By Myrtle Cash


Audiologists and ENT specialists find the use of an audiometer highly beneficial for measuring a person's level of hearing loss. Many people notice that the device looks like a volt meter, the latter of which is a machine that includes a sound system that works in a similar way. An audiometer, however, is specially designed to help health care practitioners diagnose hearing problems in children and adults.

Until the device was invented, the most challenging problem with which health care professionals were faced was determining the level of each patient's hearing loss, particularly if the individual was deaf in one ear. In such cases, specialists had to rely on manual testing, such as clapping their hands together at various intensities to create different volumes of sound. However, this was a very hit and miss method of diagnosing.

Because of advancements in medical technology, numerous machines are now available that provide a more complicated and efficient way to evaluate patients with different types of hearing problems. After the advent of the first model, audiometers have undergone many changes as well. The machine can now produce virtually all frequency levels needed to accurately test each person's level of hearing.

The device is also capable of producing a written document referred to as an audiogram. The latter is printed on graph paper. It can be sent to a specialist or physician for evaluation following the test. After this, the person can be measured for a hearing aid, or additional tests can be scheduled, depending on the information outlined in the audiogram.

The device works by creating a wide selection of sounds that can be played at different frequencies. In addition, they can be transmitted at different volume levels and intensities. These sounds and the volumes at which they are played are reduced little by little until the patient being tested can no longer clearly hear the various sounds being transmitted.

Even though conducting such tests without headphones is possible, the majority of medical practitioners prefer headphones for testing of this type. This is because headphones improve the accuracy of the test. The person being evaluated is typically instructed to respond to every sound that can be heard clearly and told to communicate with the testing administrator when the different sounds are no longer audible.

And audiometer is typically designed as a stand alone unit. In today's modern world, digital equipment of this kind can also be found. However, it is essential to realize that digital devices are not made for independent use. Instead, they are dependent on specific computer software programs. Such equipment is often used by speech therapist to monitor the progress of patients.

Due to the the technological advancements continuously being made in the world of health care, it is very likely that the accuracy of the audiometer will improve as time goes on. They are highly useful devices for both audiologists and ear, nose, and throat specialists. Additionally, the accuracy with which they are associated is beneficial to essentially all individuals who are faced with any level of hearing loss.




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