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.
Every day, people are routinely exposed to extremely loud sounds, whether as part of their employment or recreation. Examples are heavy industry and loud music in entertainment venues. This type of exposure can result in gradual hearing decay. Preventing this decay involves the measurement of a person's hearing, and audio measuring devices are used in this process of measurement.
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.
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.
Every day, people are routinely exposed to extremely loud sounds, whether as part of their employment or recreation. Examples are heavy industry and loud music in entertainment venues. This type of exposure can result in gradual hearing decay. Preventing this decay involves the measurement of a person's hearing, and audio measuring devices are used in this process of measurement.
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.
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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