What is Audiometer?

An audiometer is a medical device used to measure a person’s ability to hear various sound frequencies and intensities. It is a critical tool in audiology, which is the branch of medicine dedicated to studying and managing hearing disorders.
Audiometers are used to conduct hearing tests, also known as audiometric tests or evaluations, to assess a person’s hearing sensitivity and identify any hearing impairments or deficiencies. These tests help audiologists diagnose hearing problems, determine the type and degree of hearing loss, and formulate appropriate treatment plans.
During an audiometric test, the patient wears headphones and is exposed to a series of pure tones or complex sounds at different frequencies and intensities. The patient responds to each sound they hear by pressing a button or raising their hand. The audiometer then records the patient’s responses, allowing the audiologist to create an audiogram—a graph that illustrates the patient’s hearing thresholds for different frequencies
 
Use of Audiometer
Audiometers can be used to test various aspects of hearing, including:
Air Conduction Testing: This involves measuring the patient’s ability to hear sounds conducted through the air and delivered through headphones.

Bone Conduction Testing: This assesses the patient’s ability to hear sounds conducted through vibrations in the bones of the skull.

Speech Audiometry: This evaluates the patient’s ability to understand and repeat spoken words at different volume levels.

Threshold Audiometry: This determines the softest sounds the patient can hear across different frequencies.

Audiometers come in different types and models, ranging from basic manual devices to sophisticated computerized systems that allow for more precise and comprehensive testing. They are used in medical clinics, hospitals, audiology practices, and other healthcare settings to diagnose and manage hearing-related conditions, fit hearing aids, and monitor changes in a patient’s hearing over time.