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 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.
This type of test is used to determine the degree of sensitivity of the person's hearing. A typical audiometer consists of a set of headphones which are connected to a machine or a computer. Once a reading has been determined, appropriate action can be taken in safeguarding and mending the person's hearing.
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.
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 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.
This type of test is used to determine the degree of sensitivity of the person's hearing. A typical audiometer consists of a set of headphones which are connected to a machine or a computer. Once a reading has been determined, appropriate action can be taken in safeguarding and mending the person's hearing.
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.
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 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.
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