Being able to hear may not be something that people think about at all, but ironically it becomes more important as it is lost. Advances in industry and adaptations in lifestyle have made hearing loss a more prominent matter than it used to be. Audiometers are used in arresting the modern trend of hearing loss.
People are exposed to excessively loud noises on a daily basis, either at work or in other environments. Think of the interior of a noisy factory or the thumping beat of a nightclub. Over time, exposure to such loud noises can cause hearing loss. In order to prevent such loss, it is important to be able to measure a person's hearing sensitivity, and this is what audio measuring devices are used to do.
Audiometers all rely on the same concept in their operation. They produce a test sound which is heard (or not heard) by the person being tested. The frequency and volume of the test sound can be regulated, allowing the person's hearing to be measured. The frequency or pitch of the sound is determined in Hertz (Hz) and the volume in decibels (dB). High sounds have a high frequency, while low sounds have a low one. A bass singer in an opera sings at a low frequency. Loud noises measure many decibels, which are a reflection of the noises' intensity.
The purpose of the test is to determine the sensitivity of the person's hearing. This is why the typical setup of an audiometer is a pair of headphones attached by wires to a machine or a computer. Once the person's sensitivity has been established, the necessary steps can be taken to rectify the person's hearing or to prevent further damage.
However, the audiometer needs to be set up so that it produces the exact sounds required by the test. This setting up or modification is known as calibration, much as a car's odometer is calibrated to reflect distance accurately. An audiometer needs to be re-calibrated regularly to remain reliable.
Re-calibration is necessitated by various issues, such as changes in the operating temperature of the equipment, the equipment's age, inappropriate handling (the equipment is sensitive, since it produces barely audible sounds) and the frequency of use, amongst others. All of these issues can cause the equipment to operate with reduced accuracy, in the same way as a musical instrument loses tuning. An audiometer should ideally be re-calibrated annually.
There are essentially two types of audiometer. The first is known as the hardware type, and consists of a machine linked to headphones. The second is based on software, hence its name, and involves the use of a computer or other electronic device. Both types do the same thing. The main difference is that computer-based or software audiometers never need to be re-calibrated because they cannot lose accuracy. They can also be more refined in their degree of accuracy, since it is digital. However, they are harder to use due to variations in individual application (such as speaker volume and PC output).
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.
People are exposed to excessively loud noises on a daily basis, either at work or in other environments. Think of the interior of a noisy factory or the thumping beat of a nightclub. Over time, exposure to such loud noises can cause hearing loss. In order to prevent such loss, it is important to be able to measure a person's hearing sensitivity, and this is what audio measuring devices are used to do.
Audiometers all rely on the same concept in their operation. They produce a test sound which is heard (or not heard) by the person being tested. The frequency and volume of the test sound can be regulated, allowing the person's hearing to be measured. The frequency or pitch of the sound is determined in Hertz (Hz) and the volume in decibels (dB). High sounds have a high frequency, while low sounds have a low one. A bass singer in an opera sings at a low frequency. Loud noises measure many decibels, which are a reflection of the noises' intensity.
The purpose of the test is to determine the sensitivity of the person's hearing. This is why the typical setup of an audiometer is a pair of headphones attached by wires to a machine or a computer. Once the person's sensitivity has been established, the necessary steps can be taken to rectify the person's hearing or to prevent further damage.
However, the audiometer needs to be set up so that it produces the exact sounds required by the test. This setting up or modification is known as calibration, much as a car's odometer is calibrated to reflect distance accurately. An audiometer needs to be re-calibrated regularly to remain reliable.
Re-calibration is necessitated by various issues, such as changes in the operating temperature of the equipment, the equipment's age, inappropriate handling (the equipment is sensitive, since it produces barely audible sounds) and the frequency of use, amongst others. All of these issues can cause the equipment to operate with reduced accuracy, in the same way as a musical instrument loses tuning. An audiometer should ideally be re-calibrated annually.
There are essentially two types of audiometer. The first is known as the hardware type, and consists of a machine linked to headphones. The second is based on software, hence its name, and involves the use of a computer or other electronic device. Both types do the same thing. The main difference is that computer-based or software audiometers never need to be re-calibrated because they cannot lose accuracy. They can also be more refined in their degree of accuracy, since it is digital. However, they are harder to use due to variations in individual application (such as speaker volume and PC output).
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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