| 1. Consider the cost-effectiveness of the audiometer, | | | | designated at least type C. Standardized specially |
| and what specifically you will be using it for.. Buyers | | | | prepared speech material from tape or CD input is |
| should consider units that are easy to operate, | | | | recommended to microphone input, this will help |
| particularly in screening programs where operators | | | | maximize consistency in testing results. |
| may have less training and experience. | | | | 7.Half-octave or octave steps should exist on the |
| 2. Speech eudiometry is not a recommended feature. | | | | audiometer. Half-octave frequencies are needed to |
| Because of this, pure-tone audiometers, at minimum, | | | | verify consistency in a subject's hearing level when |
| should be capable of testing at frequencies of 500 to | | | | exposed to an octave. |
| 6,000 Hz. | | | | 8. Earphones are a vital addition to any audiometer. If |
| 3. Standard clinical eudiometry testing is performed | | | | your audiometer needs to deliver a signal to the |
| over a range of 250 to 8,000 Hz. Although not | | | | subject, make certain the earphones contain one |
| required, bone-conduction testing for annual or | | | | earphone for each ear. |
| baseline audiograms can be useful in determining | | | | 9. Insert earphones are preferred because they are |
| diagnosis in a clinical setting. | | | | generally lighter and provide a better fit than supra |
| 4. The frequency accuracy of the audiometer should | | | | aural earphones. They offer greater protection |
| be within 3% for optimal results; within 1% accuracy | | | | against the signal being heard by the opposite ear. |
| for some clinical applications. | | | | 10. Free-field testing is not normally recommended for |
| 5. Audiometers should be at least type 3 as specified | | | | screening purposes. It may be a good alternative to |
| by ANSI S2.6-1996. In addition, type 1 may be | | | | earphones when testing small children who may not |
| required under certain conditions and are | | | | tolerate earphones. It is also used in certain |
| recommended for clinical environments where a full | | | | hearing-aid assessments. |
| range of testing applications must be met. | | | | 11. To ensure that one ear is not compensating for |
| 6. A clinical audiometer might require speech-testing | | | | the other during the test, masking noise should be |
| functionality. To do so, the audiometer should be | | | | available for clinical testing. |