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Uses Of An Audiometer As A Diagnostic Tool In Audiometry

| Wednesday, 22 January 2014
By Marissa Velazquez


An audiometer is a special instrument used to identify and monitor hear loss and hearing disorders. It has standard calibrations which help to obtain the best results of the condition. Audiometric tests are carried out in a quiet soundproof room. Headphones are provided to the patient to place on his ears. The professional requests you to sit and remain calm.

The headphones are then attached to a device that produces tones at varied frequencies and different intensity. The audiologist then waits to see the patient raise a hand in acknowledgement of sound heard. To specify the ear that picks the sound, you are expected to raise the corresponding hand to the ear, which is either left or right hand respectively. There is also the provision of buttons to confirm hearing by the patient. The results are then studied and recorded on an audiogram.

There are many conditions that have contributed to people losing their hearing ability. One of such condition is called acoustic neuroma. This is a slow growing tumor on the cranial nerve, which has the responsibility of the sense of hearing and balance. In addition to the loss of hearing ability, it can also cause paralysis of the face.

A damaged eardrum or ossicle can cause conductive hearing loss. Damaged vestibulocochlear nerve can result to Sensorineural hearing loss. Sometimes a person can experience buzzing sounds which are also called tinnitus. Vertigo is another condition if not managed properly can result to hearing loss.

Audiometry is comprised of many tests which are done according to the age and the type of test. The principle which is used to check for hear loss on a newborn baby is the same as that used on an adult the only difference is the way of doing it. Babies cannot report when there is a problem with their ears and they require special equipment to test them. It is important to test a baby when asleep to avoid interruptions.

To test babies, the audiologist uses an otoacoustic emission test. This test is fast, simple and the child does not feel any pain. A tiny earpiece which contains a microphone and a small loudspeaker is securely placed in the ear. The loudspeaker produces clicking sound inside the ear which is passed to the cochlea. A well functioning cochlea responds by resending the sound to the ear canal which is heard by the microphone.

A case where no sound is heard could mean an hearing problem though other factors have to be ruled out. These factors can be an unsettled child, a noisy room or even the presence of some fluid in the ear after birth. The test has to be done several times and if not satisfactory another more sensitive test called automated auditory brainstem response is done. Both tests have to be done when the child is asleep to avoid interruption.

A technique called reinforcement audiometry is used to test young children. This test uses speakers as the sound outlet. The child is required to respond by confirming the location of the speaker when he hears the sound. This is done repeatedly at different frequencies. Adults and much grown children are tested using a technique called pure tone audiometry where an audiometer is used to produce sound which is relayed to the headphones at varied intensities and frequencies.




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