Audiometers

Solutions:

Screening audiometers

Diagnostic audiometers

Specialist solutions

What is audiometry?

Audiometry is a particular branch of audiology. An audiometry test is performed to determine how well a subject can hear as part of a routine screening or in response to a noticeable loss of hearing using an audiometer.

It is the process of measuring hearing acuity for variations in sound intensity and pitch and for tonal purity, involving thresholds and differing frequencies. A doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating hearing loss is know as an audiologist, who also administers the test.

Why is an audiometry test performed within a workplace environment?

If a person has been regularly subjected to loud noises within their job role, like a police firearms officer or a factory worker using loud machinery therefore an employee’s hearing should be monitored and checked regularly in order to provide them with appropriate protective equipment. It is also important to assure employees are working correctly and within the appropriate level of hearing ability, that they can hear commands and carry out tasks safely for themselves and their colleagues.

An occupational health specialist would perform a hearing test to the determine the hearing ability of an employee. There are several different types of hearing tests used in audiometry and they can all depend on the employee or the industry they work in.

By law within the UK, a person is protected by the Equality Act 2010 which requires an employer to consider reasonable adjustments within the workplace for deaf or hard of hearing employees. There is government funding available to support employers financially called ‘Access to Work’.

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What is audiology?

Audiology is a branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. In audiology, audiologists treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage. By employing various testing strategies, audiologists aim to determine whether someone has normal sensitivity to sounds or if there is some hearing loss.

What does audiometry measure?

An audiometer is used to measure the test subject's response to different sounds depending on different sound levels, as well as distinguishing speech with or without background noise at different sound levels.

If a person has a sudden loss of hearing ability, a noticeable hearing loss in one or both ears, has a history of ear infections or has recently had surgery to the head, then it is recommended to see a medical professional for a hearing test to check their hearing health is ok.

In audiometry, what are screening and diagnostic tests used for?

A screening hearing test is used to determine if there are signs of a hearing loss, it will record a patient’s reaction to pure tones played. The results of the screening test will then allow the hearing health professional to determine if further examination or tests are required.

A diagnostic test is performed after a failed screening test. It is conducted to find out the extent of the hearing loss. A diagnostic audiometer is used by the audiologist to assess the hearing ability and provides a full evaluation of the patients hearing ability. It will measure how well the patient hears pure tones and understands speech. The test duration usually takes longer than a screening test.

How do audiometry tests work?

With the use of an audiometer, an audiologist or healthcare professional will be able to measure a person’s hearing ability by playing different sounds (for instance tones or speech) with the aim to diagnose a hearing loss which may have been caused by disease or injury. These results are usually displayed or printed on an audiogram.

A hearing test is usually carried out by a specifically trained medical professional like a doctor or nurse, an audiologist or a qualified occupational health professional. These professionals have an excellent understanding of the biology of the ear, the science of hearing and the knowledge to measure and diagnose a patient’s hearing ability.

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