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.
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 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 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.
The trick in using an audiometer is to make it produce exactly the right sounds. In order to do this, the audiometer needs to be calibrated, in the same way as a musical instrument needs to be tuned. Calibration, or re-calibration, needs to be done frequently in order to ensure maximum reliability.
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.
At present there are two types of audiometer: the hardware and the software type. The hardware version consists of a stereotypical design: earphones plugged into a box or machine. The software type also uses earphones, but they are linked to a PC or other digital device. The most important difference lies in their respective performances. A software audiometer never needs re-calibration, just as a digital musical tuner can never go out of tune. Software devices can also produce more detailed readings, since they are digital. However, software audiometers are also harder to use accurately because they involve individualized on-board and hardware settings, which make calibration more difficult.
In a time of increasingly louder noises, it is important to be able to detect hearing loss. Audiometers have many industrial and household applications. They are a valuable complement to the steps that each person can take in safeguarding their own hearing.
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 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 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.
The trick in using an audiometer is to make it produce exactly the right sounds. In order to do this, the audiometer needs to be calibrated, in the same way as a musical instrument needs to be tuned. Calibration, or re-calibration, needs to be done frequently in order to ensure maximum reliability.
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.
At present there are two types of audiometer: the hardware and the software type. The hardware version consists of a stereotypical design: earphones plugged into a box or machine. The software type also uses earphones, but they are linked to a PC or other digital device. The most important difference lies in their respective performances. A software audiometer never needs re-calibration, just as a digital musical tuner can never go out of tune. Software devices can also produce more detailed readings, since they are digital. However, software audiometers are also harder to use accurately because they involve individualized on-board and hardware settings, which make calibration more difficult.
In a time of increasingly louder noises, it is important to be able to detect hearing loss. Audiometers have many industrial and household applications. They are a valuable complement to the steps that each person can take in safeguarding their own hearing.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.henanmedical.com for more helpful information about A Quick Discussion Of Audiometers
Read more...
