An ear examination comprises of audiometry tests for analyzing a person’s hearing ability. The tests are performed by subjecting a person to various sound frequencies and measuring the amount of sound they reaches the brain. The audiometry tests are performed using an audiometer, which generates sound vibrations for a range of frequencies and intensities. Audiometric testing is performed by trained technicians, known as audiologists.

The primary purpose for these tests is to detect and rectify cases involving hearing loss or imperfections. In addition to analyzing the hearing ability, the audiometer is also used to detect other abnormalities such as the inability to distinguish between pitch variations, speech and background difference, or varying sound intensity. Audiometry is used to detect hearing disabilities for all age groups, and identifies the severity and primary cause for the defect. Audiometry testing is straightforward and painless, and stringent precautions are not necessary.

Audiometry equipment is used for performing hearing tests in a variety of scenarios. It can be employed for detecting hearing disabilities in children through screening programs conducted within schools. It can be used within hospitals or clinics for detecting hearing issues for the young as well as the old. After analyzing a person’s particular hearing pattern, accurate diagnosis can be achieved. The correct therapy can then be initiated, such as using hearing aids, speech therapy or corrective surgery.

CAOHC-certified medical practitioners can conduct audiometry tests. Several advanced audiometers are available for collecting, managing and analyzing hearing data. Audiometric testing also needs to comply with OSHA standards for background noise levels. A certain thickness of special acoustical foam is used to enclose the audiometric room, in order to reduce the background noise and sound proof the testing room.

The data collated after performing audiometry tests on a person needs to be examined accurately and maintained for future purposes. This data is crucial for detecting hearing disability and its severity for the person, and is used to reach an accurate diagnosis. The record management handles the storage and management of data obtained from audiometry tests. The various hearing records for each person are compared to determine whether a person’s hearing ability is deteriorating over time. The data can provide valuable information for noise generating companies, by analyzing the audiometry data of its employees and plotting the effect of generated noise on hearing ability. This information can help regulate the amount of noise generated by noise pollution companies. Software programs are used for the purpose of record management. The programs are easy to use, and can provide comprehensible summary of audiometric data. The summary, plots and charts can then be used to test effectiveness of any therapy programs. Records management can help save time and effort, by performing efficient sorting, structuring and formatting of audiometry data.

Audiometry testing and record management services are provided on the client site. Special mobile units are used for performing audiometry testing, which comply with audiometry standards. Record management programs can generate individual notifications and reports that can summarize the patient’s history, threshold shifts, future testing and therapy requirements.

References: http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/audiometry.jsp