Audiologists and ENT specialists find the use of an audiometer highly beneficial for measuring a person's level of hearing loss. Many people notice that the device looks like a volt meter, the latter of which is a machine that includes a sound system that works in a similar way. An audiometer, however, is specially designed to help health care practitioners diagnose hearing problems in children and adults.
Until the device was invented, the most challenging problem with which health care professionals were faced was determining the level of each patient's hearing loss, particularly if the individual was deaf in one ear. In such cases, specialists had to rely on manual testing, such as clapping their hands together at various intensities to create different volumes of sound. However, this was a very hit and miss method of diagnosing.
Because of advancements in medical technology, numerous machines are now available that provide a more complicated and efficient way to evaluate patients with different types of hearing problems. After the advent of the first model, audiometers have undergone many changes as well. The machine can now produce virtually all frequency levels needed to accurately test each person's level of hearing.
The device is also capable of producing a written document referred to as an audiogram. The latter is printed on graph paper. It can be sent to a specialist or physician for evaluation following the test. After this, the person can be measured for a hearing aid, or additional tests can be scheduled, depending on the information outlined in the audiogram.
The machine essentially works by transmitting a broad range of sounds that can be played at a variety of frequencies. They can also be played at different intensities and volume levels. These sounds and the frequencies at which they are played are lowered a little bit at a time until the person undergoing the test can no longer differentiates the sounds.
Although it is not impossible to conduct such tests without the use of headphones, most professionals in the field of health care prefer to use headphones whenever one's hearing is being tested. This is due to the fact that they improve the accuracy of the frequencies that the patient will be hearing throughout the test. The individual being evaluated will be directed to respond to each sound that he or she can clearly hear, and inform the testing administrator when the various sounds can no longer be heard.
And audiometer is typically designed as a stand alone unit. In today's modern world, digital equipment of this kind can also be found. However, it is essential to realize that digital devices are not made for independent use. Instead, they are dependent on specific computer software programs. Such equipment is often used by speech therapist to monitor the progress of patients.
Because of the advancements in technology that are continually being made in the health care arena, the accuracy of the audiometer will probably be perfected even more in the future. Such devices are highly useful to both ear, nose, and throat specialists and audiologists. In addition, the accuracy they offer is advantageous to virtually all patients who are faced with any type of hearing loss.
Until the device was invented, the most challenging problem with which health care professionals were faced was determining the level of each patient's hearing loss, particularly if the individual was deaf in one ear. In such cases, specialists had to rely on manual testing, such as clapping their hands together at various intensities to create different volumes of sound. However, this was a very hit and miss method of diagnosing.
Because of advancements in medical technology, numerous machines are now available that provide a more complicated and efficient way to evaluate patients with different types of hearing problems. After the advent of the first model, audiometers have undergone many changes as well. The machine can now produce virtually all frequency levels needed to accurately test each person's level of hearing.
The device is also capable of producing a written document referred to as an audiogram. The latter is printed on graph paper. It can be sent to a specialist or physician for evaluation following the test. After this, the person can be measured for a hearing aid, or additional tests can be scheduled, depending on the information outlined in the audiogram.
The machine essentially works by transmitting a broad range of sounds that can be played at a variety of frequencies. They can also be played at different intensities and volume levels. These sounds and the frequencies at which they are played are lowered a little bit at a time until the person undergoing the test can no longer differentiates the sounds.
Although it is not impossible to conduct such tests without the use of headphones, most professionals in the field of health care prefer to use headphones whenever one's hearing is being tested. This is due to the fact that they improve the accuracy of the frequencies that the patient will be hearing throughout the test. The individual being evaluated will be directed to respond to each sound that he or she can clearly hear, and inform the testing administrator when the various sounds can no longer be heard.
And audiometer is typically designed as a stand alone unit. In today's modern world, digital equipment of this kind can also be found. However, it is essential to realize that digital devices are not made for independent use. Instead, they are dependent on specific computer software programs. Such equipment is often used by speech therapist to monitor the progress of patients.
Because of the advancements in technology that are continually being made in the health care arena, the accuracy of the audiometer will probably be perfected even more in the future. Such devices are highly useful to both ear, nose, and throat specialists and audiologists. In addition, the accuracy they offer is advantageous to virtually all patients who are faced with any type of hearing loss.
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