Ex.

No:
AUDIOMETER

AIM
To measures the hearing sensitivity of an individual by air conduction Pure tone audiometry.
APPARATUS REQUIRED

S. No. Apparatus Quantity

1 Portable audiometer 1
2 Headphone 1
3 Mains Cord 1

THEORY
Pure tone audiometry is the routine hearing test used to identify hearing threshold levels of
an individual, enabling determination of the degree, type and configuration of a hearing loss. The
pure-tone audiometer is an instrument which produces sounds, in the form of pure tones, which
can be varied both in frequency and intensity.
A pure-tone audiometer basically consists of an LC oscillator which is coupled to an output
current amplifier stage to produce the required power levels. The attenuator controls the level of
the signal from the audiometer. The output from the attenuator is taken to the headphones.
Pure tones are presented to the patient either through headphones for air conduction
measurements, or through a bone conductor for bone conduction measurements. The interrupter
switch controls the duration of the signal that is presented to the patient. The interrupter switch is
typically set to the off position for pure-tone signals and is turned on when the presentation button
is pressed.
When hearing is measured with pure tones presented through headphones, this
measurement is called air conduction. The patient listens pure tones and indicate when they can
hear them, generally by pressing a button. The loudness of each tone is reduced until the individual
can just hear the tone. The softest sounds the patient can hear are known as hearing thresholds,
and these are marked on a graph called an audiogram.
PROCEDURE
1. Instruct the client to respond by pressing the button or lifting his/her finger as soon as
he/she hears the tone.
2. Connect the audiometer to the power supply and switch it on and properly connect the
earphones to the apparatus.
3. Ask the subject to sit in a relaxed position and place headphones on the client’s head. It is
usual to place them in such a manner that the blue phone covers the left ear and the red
phone the right ear.
 4. Ensure that the opening of the earphone is positioned directly over the external ear
canal; the height of the phones may be adjusted to allow proper positioning. Ensure
that hair is not interposed between the earphone and the ear.
5. Select the 1000 Hz frequency and set the output switch so that the tone is presented
to the better ear. The reason that the test commences with 1000 Hz is because this falls
in the middle of the most sensitive area of the hearing spectrum.
6. Select the switch to ‘L’ left position.
7. Initially present the sound at 30 dB. If a response is obtained it suggests that 30 dB
sound is above the client’s threshold. If no response is observed the level is raised to
50 dB and then raised in 10 dB increments until a response is elicited or the limit of
the audiometer is reached at that frequency.
8. Once a response is obtained the level is lowered in 10dB steps until the client stops
responding. It is then raised in 5dB steps until he/she again responds. The sound is at this
stage raised and lowered in 5dB steps until the client indicates 50% of the time that he/she
hears the sound.
9. Repeat the same for right ear by turning the selector to ‘R’ position.
10. Switch the frequency to 500 Hz and repeat the above steps.
11. Plot the graph of response for right and left ear.
RESULT
Frequency (Hz) Right ear (dB) Left ear (dB)

500

1000

2000

3000

4000

6000

8000

Block Diagram of Audiometer