What are the elements that make up an audiometer? - AnswersPower source, frequency
selector dial, hearing level dial, ear selector
What are the possible stimuli options for an audiometer? - AnswersTones, live speech, recorded
speech, masking noise
What is a transducer? - AnswersProcess that takes energy in one form and turns that energy
into a different form
ex: fan that turns electrical energy into movement
What are the 3 audiometer transducers that are used for air condiction? - Answers- supra-aural
headphones
- Inset earphone
- Speakers in sound field
What is an advantage to supra-aural headphones - Answersnoise cancelling to avoid outside
noises
What would be a disadvantage and advantage of using speakers in the sound field -
AnswersDisadvantages:
-can only test both ears at the same time (not one ear individually)
-room has to be set up to make sure that sound doesn't bounce around
Advantage:
- speakers are good for children that might fidget with headphones
What transducer do you use for bone conductor - AnswersVibrator
What color relates to right ear and what color relates to the left ear - AnswersRight ear: red
Left ear: blue
What is another name for supra-aural headphones? - AnswersTDH-39 or TDH 49
What is another name for an insert earphone? - AnswersEAR 3A
,What does an air conduction test assess? - Answerstest the performance of the entire hearing
mechanism (outer, middle and inner ear combined)
-can also test one ear at a time
What are the upper and lower limits for air conduction testing? - Answers-Maximum output: 90-
110 dB HL (more than this could hurt the ears)
-Minimum output: -10 dB HL
What is the entire range of the general octave test frequencies? - Answers250, 500, 1000, 2000,
4000, 8000 hz
-may also test inter-octaves (if there is less than a 20 dB difference between octaves)
What is the most common octave test frequencies? - Answers500, 1000, and 2000 hz
What are the 2 ways that audiometers can be calibrated? - AnswersElectroacoustic calibration
and biological (human) calibration
What is electroacoustic calibration? - AnswersWhen a licensed specialist comes in once a year
and makes sure the audiometer sound is standard and exactly where it should be
-there if formal paperwork provided to document completion
What is biological (human) calibration? - AnswersA "self check" that is done every day by the
clinician to make sure that nothing went wrong over night
-Clinician listens and makes sure everything sounds normal
How are headphones calibrated with electroacoustic calibration? - Answers-One earphone is
placed over an artificial ear, (held in place with a weight)
-the artificial ear is connected to a microphone which is connected to a sound level meter
, -Audiometer is set to 70 dB HL and signals are sent through the earphone
-output values are collected at SLM which are compared to RETSPL standards for each
frequency tested
Explain RETSPL - Answersreference Equivalent threshold sound pressure levels are used when
calibrating audiometric equipment to a hearing threshold level of zero at various frequencies
How do you calibrate an inset earphone? - Answers-You place the insert earphone over a
standard connector that has a coupler with a 2-cc volume so the earbud nicely fits
-the tones are played for the inset headphone and compared to the specific RETSPL values
Why is utilizing a combination of pure tone tests and speech audiometry important in regards to
speech and accurate clinical insights ? - Answers-The audiologist will be able to help individuals
estimate how clearly speech sounds can be heard
comparing speech audiometry and pure tone findings:
- can ensure test reliability so clinicians can ensure they are making good predictions about
hearing
-can help getting a wide scale view of the patients hearing
What is conductive hearing loss - Answershearing loss due to damage in the outer or middle ear
-sounds are not heard because they never reach the inner ear
What are some common causes of conductive hearing loss - AnswersMalformations of the
outer ear
-collapsed ear canals or buildup of wax
Otitis media
-head colds that cause congestion so middle ear does not preform effectively