PURE-TONE AUDIOMETRY-NEED

TYPES OF TRANSDUCERS
AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS
CALIBRATION OF AUDIOMETERS
NEED FOR DOING PURE TONE
AUDIOMETRY
WHY USE AUDIOMETRY?
▪ The “standard” hearing test.
▪ Determine frequency specific hearing sensitivity.
▪ Determine speech understanding in quiet and in noise.
▪ Audiogram and speech understanding are valuable counseling tools.
▪ Audiometric thresholds used to fit hearing aids.
▪ Screening or diagnostic protocol can be used.
▪ Can test children and adults.
 CONTINUES….
▪ Gives the threshold of detection of sound
▪ Peripheral hearing system
▪ Degree and type of hearing loss
▪ Configuration of loss
▪ Progression or change over time
▪ Frequency specific information – important for diagnosis and hearing aid
selection
DISADVANTAGES
▪ Does not reflect the status of central auditory system
▪ Doesn’t give information about processing of complex signals like speech which is important
in everyday listening situation.
 PURETONE AUDIOMETER
▪ The principal tool used in the process of evaluating a patients' auditory functioning. International
electrochemical commission 1976 defined an audiometer to be an instrument used to measure the
acuity of hearing and auditory threshold.
▪ An audiometer is an instrument, which is used for carrying out these audiometric tests and procedures.
▪ Audiometer can be of different types, depending upon the frequency range, range of acoustic output,
mode of acoustic presentation, masking facility, procedures used, and types of acoustic stimuli.
 CONTINUATION….
▪ It is capable of generating pure tones at a specific frequency, specific intensity, and
duration, either singly or in series
▪ Basic audiometer must be equipped to perform, the most fundamental audiological
tests.
▪ It is an electronic device that produces pure tones of various frequencies and delivers
them to transducers.
▪ A conventional audiometer instrument has dials or knobs with calibrated scale for
frequency selection and for tone masking noise level selection.
▪ The variation of the level of the stimulus is done manually by the audiologist after
carefully observing the responses of the subject.
▪ The limitations and drawbacks of this conventional audiometer are that the
interrupter switch is used for tone switching and needs to be mechanically silent.
▪ The presence of mechanical parts makes the instrument more susceptible to wear
and tear.
▪ Calibration is necessary, at least, once in six months.
▪ The advancement in technology has made the various switching task
 TYPES AND PARTS OF AN
AUDIOMETER
▪ There are several types of audiometers and they are classified primarily by their functions.
(a) Type I audiometer – Full fledged audiometer. Fully equipped with capabilities for pure tones, bone
conduction, masking and speech tests, loud speakers for sound field testing
(b) Type II audiometer – Does not have speakers hence free field audiometry is not possible with this.
(c) Type III audiometer – Portable audiometer without speech audiometry facility
(d) Type IV audiometer – Basic screening audiometer. Has only ear phones.  Sometimes there is a limited
number of tones and intensities on the screening audiometer.
▪ Manual Audiometers ( conventional )
▪ Automatic Audiometers ( Bekesy)
▪ Diagnostic audiometer: can either be portable or stationary, and you can buy the most suitable one
depending on your needs.
o These devices are used by audiologists to check bone, air and speech amounts of many places to
understand whether or not this can destructive to the ears of those dwelling there.
o Some diagnostic audiometer models could be made with PC-integration while some could be created
using home windows operation systems
▪ Clinical audiometer: Available that come with a front panel, manual and standard calibration and display
units.
o The main application of such devices is in clinics, hospitals and by other people who specialize in
treating diseases of the ear.
o Despite these products being accurate and simple to use some are quite expensive.
▪  High-frequency audiometer: used for early testing of hearing sensitivity to noise, which can cause
hearing losses.
o It is most common in an industrial setting where there are high levels of hearing loss due to production
of loud noise.
o These tools are made with the capabilities to operate under certain high frequencies to diagnose such
noises in order to aid in the prevention of potential hearing lose.
o The accuracy of the results depends on the threshold used though high thresholds can lead to better
results.
▪ Paediatric hearing audiometer: Devices that are used to diagnose hearing problems in young children
and infants.
o Their dimensions and calibration are made to meet the needs of young children and infants.
o A few of these products have PC-integration even though others do not have.
o The quality of the results is dependent on their designing and the kind of components it consists of.
 TYPES OF AUDIOMETERS
Pure tone Automatic Speech audiometer Extended high Free field
audiometer audiometer frequency equivalent
audiometer audiometer

Type 1,2,3,4 Same classification Type A, B, C Type HF Type E

as for pure tone
audiometers

✔ Pure tone generator ✔ Computer controlled ✔ Pure tone generator is ✔ Can deliver ✔ Transducer output
✔ Interrupter switch ✔ Self recording replaced by a frequencies up to levels are calibrated to
✔ Amplifier ✔ Bekesy audiometers microphone(Live 16,000 Hz sound field reference
✔ Attenuator voice) & external threshold levels
✔ Output selector ✔ Audiometer inputs(tape/CD) ✔ Circumaural head ✔ Earphone/bone
✔ earphones automatically lowers phones vibrator thresholds are
the tone when subject ✔ Monitoring meter (VU equivalent to hearing
presses the response meter) between ✔ -20 to 90 dB from 8K - tests performed in
switch amplifier and 11.2K sound field
✔ Increases the tone attenuator
when he releases the ✔ -20 to 50 from 12K –
switch 16K
 COMPONENTS OF AN AUDIOMETER

▪ Three main components of any audiometer are:

▪ Oscillator
▪ Interrupter switch
▪ Hearing level attenuator
▪ Oscillator: Audio oscillator generates pure tones of different frequencies, usually at discrete steps of 125, 250,
500, 750, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz
▪ Amplifier: Amplifier amplifies the produced oscillations to a fixed intensity level (e.g. 110 dB HL) without
appreciable distortion.
▪ Attenuator: Controls the amplified oscillations so that the energy reaching the ear may be varied over a range
of 0 to 110 dB HL in 5 dB HL increments.
ᴥ The maximum intensity allowed at each frequency is indicated on the hearing level disc.
ᴥ Due to variations in sensitivity of the ear at different frequencies, more energy is needed at the very low and
very high frequencies.
ᴥ For this reason only the midfrequencies (1000 Hz to 3000Hz) may be presented at a level of 110 dB HL.
ᴥ For all the other frequencies a reduced maximum value is indicated. Due to lower sensitivity for bone
conduction, these maximum values are lower for bone conduction than for air conduction. The maximum
hearing level for the lower frequencies (125 – 250 Hz) is generally 70 dB HL
▪ Interrupter switch: controls the duration of the signal that is presented to the patient. Interrupter switch is
typically set to the “on” position for speech signals.
▪ Transducers: Transform electrical energy into acoustic energy which is presented to the ear.
AUDIOMETER FRONTAGE - VIEW
▪ Power switch- controls the electrical supply to the instrument
▪ Interrupter – test tones are presented to the patient by turning it on and Off.
▪ Frequency control- used to selct among various test frequencies.(125Hz to
8000Hz).
▪ Stimulus/ tone mode switch- test tone presentation can be either continuously on
or pulsed ( not found in basic audiometers).
▪  Talk Forward- To talk to the patient through the headphones 
▪ Attenuator- intensity of the test tone is controlled by attenuator / hearing level
control.
▪ Voice VU Meter - to change the volume of your own voice in the audiometer
▪ Output selector- direct the signal to the RT/ Lt earphones, bone vibrator.
AUDIOMETER – SIDE VIEW
PURE TONE AUDIOMETER NETWORKS
FOR EARPHONE PRESENTATION

Signal
generator Amplifier Attenuator interrupter transducers
(source)
SPEECH AUDIOMETER FOR SPEECH
STIMULUS PRESENTATION
LOUD SPEAKER SETTINGS IN
AUDIOMETER

Electrical cross output

Speakers
over network
TRANSDUCERS
▪ Supra aural earphones
▪ Insert earphones
▪ Loudspeakers
▪ Bone vibrator
Tone mode Speech input
(test signal switching)

▪ Presentation interruption ▪ Microphone

▪ Pulsed tone ▪ External input
▪ Frequency modulation
MASKING FACILITIES...
Masking Routing of masker

▪ Narrow band noise ▪ Contralateral earphone

▪ White noise ▪ Ipsilateral earphone
▪ Speech spectrum noise ▪ Loudspeaker
▪ Bone vibrator
OTHER FEATURES
▪ Subject response
▪ Signal indicator
▪ Audible monitoring
▪ Operator to subject communication
▪ Talk back system
STANDARDS
Terms
Definitions
Specifications
 INTRODUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS FOR AUDIOMETERS

▪ Standards provide specifications about the features to be found in each type of

audiometer.
▪ Equipment should be maintained according to manufacturer's specifications and
recommendations.
▪ Instruments are properly calibrated at recommended intervals and calibration
records are maintained.
▪ This standard includes specifications and tolerances for audiometers and standard
reference threshold levels for audiometric transducers such as supra-aural,
circumaural, and insert earphones; bone vibrators; and loudspeakers. 
▪ This standard classifies audiometers according to the type of signal generated (pure
tones, speech, or both), mode of operation, and complexity or range of auditory
functions tested.
▪ These are outlined in standards provided by ANSI, IEC. ASA & ANSI both list &
sell IEC & ISO standards. In general, the ANSI, ISO, & IEC standards are in close
agreement.
 PURPOSE
▪ To provide uniformity among users

▪ Following standards is a choice

▪ Used by accrediting agencies & professional associations to ensure quality of practice

 APPLICATIONS

▪ This standard specifies requirements for audiometers used

primarily to determine hearing threshold levels with respect to
standard reference threshold levels.
SPECIFICATIONS AVAILABLE…
▪ International standards
▪ ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
▪ IEC (International Electro-technical Commission)
▪ ANSI (American National Standards Institute)

▪ Indian Standards
▪ BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
ANSI STANDARDS FOR AUDIOMETERS

▪ ANSI S3.6 (American National Standard for Audiometers)

1969,1989,1996,2004,2010
▪ Standards for Audiometers include ANSI S3.6 1996. The specification were developed in
1969, revised in 1989 & again revised in 1996. There were further revisions in 2004.
▪ The ANSI S3.6-1996 Specification for Audiometers represents our most current and best
resource for information regarding audiometers.
▪ It also contains reference threshold levels for all commonly used transducers in one standard.
 MINIMUM REQUIRED FREQ. AND HLS FOR PURE TONE AUDIOMETERS (ANSI S 3.6, 1996)

  Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4

Freq (Hz) AC BC AC BC AC BC AC

125 70 - 60 - - - -

250 90 45 80 45 70 35 -

500 120 60 110 60 100 50 70

750 120 60 - - - - -

1000 120 70 110 70 100 60 70

1500 120 70 110 70 - - -

2000 120 70 110 70 100 60 70

3000 120 70 110 70 100 60 70

4000 120 60 110 60 100 50 70

6000 110 50 100 - 90 - 70

8000 100 - 90 - 80 - -
NORMATIVE REFERENCES
▪ The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this standard.
▪ ANSI S1.1-1994 (R 2004) American National Standard Acoustical Terminology ANSI S1.4-
1983 (R 2006) American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters ANSI/ASA
S3.1-1999 (R 2008)
▪ American National Standard Maximum Permissible Ambient Noise Levels for Audiometric
Test Rooms
 ANSI S3.6-2010 (AMERICAN NATIONAL
STANDARDS INSTITUTE) 

▪ All rights reserved ANSI/ASA S3.2-2009 American National Standard Method for Measuring the
Intelligibility of Speech over Communication Systems ANSI/ASA S3.7-1995 (R 2008)
▪ American National Standard Method for Coupler Calibration of Earphones
▪ ANSI S3.13-1987 (R 2007) American National Standard Mechanical Coupler for Measurement of
Bone Vibrators
▪ ANSI/ASA S3.20-1995 (R 2008) American National Standard Bio acoustical Terminology
▪ ANSI/ASA S3.21-2004 (R 2009) American National Standard Methods for Manual Pure-Tone
Threshold Audiometry
▪ ANSI/ASA S3.25-2009 American National Standard for an Occluded Ear Simulator
▪ ANSI/AAMI ES60601-1 Medical Electrical Equipment, Part 1: General Requirements for Basic Safety
and Essential Performance.
The IEC (1980) classifies the audiometers as under:
• Type 1 – Advanced Diagnostic Audiometer
• Type 2 - Diagnostic Audiometer
• Type 3 – Simple Diagnostic audiometer
• Type 4 – Screening Audiometer
• Type 5 – Simplest Audiometer

The minimum requirements for the audiometers decrease from type 1 to type
5.
Type 1 includes many features. In comparison, the Type 5 has no required
minimum or maximum features.
 IEC INTERNATIONAL ELECTRO TECHNICAL
COMMISSION STANDARDS FOR AUDIOMETERS
▪ IEC 60268-17 Ed. 1.0 b:1990 Sound system equipment, Part 17: Standard volume indicators
▪ IEC 60318-1:2009 Electro acoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 1: Ear simulator for the
measurement of supra-aural and circumaural earphones
▪ IEC 60318-3:1998 Electro acoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 3: Acoustic coupler for the
calibration of supra-aural earphones used in audiometry
▪ IEC 60318-4: 2010 Electro acoustics – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 4: Occluded-ear simulator for
the measurement of earphone coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts (revision of IEC 60711:1981)
▪ IEC 60318-5:2006 Electroacoustic – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 5: 2 cm3 coupler for the
measurement of hearing aids and earphones coupled to the ear by means of ear inserts
▪ IEC 60318-6:2007 Electroacoustic – Simulators of human head and ear – Part 6: Mechanical coupler for the
measurement of bone vibrators
 IEC STANDARDS CONTINUATION…
▪ IEC 60601-1:2005 Medical electrical equipment – Part 1: General requirements for basic safety
and essential performance
▪ IEC 60601-1-2:2007 Medical electrical equipment – Part 1-2: General requirements for basic
safety and essential performance – Collateral standard: Electromagnetic compatibility –
Requirements and tests
▪ IEC 60645-1:2001 Electroacoustic – Audiological equipment – Part 1: Pure-tone audiometers IEC
60645-2:1993 Audiometers – Part 2: Equipment for speech audiometry
▪ IEC 61094-4:1995 Measurement microphones – Part 4: Specifications for working standard
microphones
 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ORGANIZATION(ISO) STANDARDS

▪ ISO 389-1:1998 Acoustics – “Reference zero for the calibration of audiometric equipment” –
▪ Part 1: Reference equivalent threshold sound pressure levels (RETSPL)for pure tones and supra-
aural earphones
 SPECIFICATIONS FOR AUDIOMETERS
TYPE 1 - AUDIOMETER WITH EXTENDED HIGH FREQUENCY
Standards:
• EN 60645-1, EN 60645-2, EN 60645-4/ANSI S. 3.6.
• Calibration: ISO389-1, ISO389-2, ISO 389-3, ISO 389-4.
Channels: Two independent channels.
• Channel 1: Input: Tone, Microphone 1&2, Tape/CD 1&2, NB, SN, WN, PN. Output:
• Channel 2: Input: Tone, Microphone 1+2, Tape/CD, 1&2, NB, SN, WN, PN. Output for both channels:
• Left, Right, Free Field 1+2, Insert phones, HF-phones, Insert masking.
Test Types:
• Tone , Speech,
• Auto thresholds, Bekesy test,
• Difference Limen Intensity, Difference Limen Frequency,
• Loudness Balancing, Difference masked unmasked, Weber, ABLB. TT Decay,
• Masking Level Difference, MLB, SISI
• Stenger, Lombard, Doerfler-Stewart
• Sound Field
Accessories
• TDH39 (49/50) Headset
• B71 Bone Conductor
• High Frequency Headset
• Audiocup Enclosures
• EAR-Tone 5A Insert Phones for audiometry
• Insert Earphone for masking and monitoring
 TYPE 2- DIAGNOSTIC AUDIOMETER
PURE TONE – CHANNELS 1 & 2
Frequency Range:
• Air: 125 Hz to 12,000 Hz
• High Frequency: 8,000Hz to 20,000Hz
• Bone: 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz
• Sound Field: 250 Hz to 12,000 Hz
Intensity range
• Air Conduction: -10dB HL to 120dB HL
• High Frequency: -20dB HL to 100dB HL (Sennheiser player
DA 200 phones)
• Bone Conduction: Mastoid -10 to 80dB HL
Forehead -20 to 70dB HL
• Sound Field: -10dB HL to 90dB HL
• Inserts: -10 to 110dB HL
Tone stimuli
• Continuous Tone
• Pulse Tone
• warble tones
Speech & sound field
• Channel 1 & Channel 2
• Microphone for live voice
• External A & External B for recorded speech
material from external stereo tape cassette or CD
• Intensity range – AC -10 to 105dB HL
BC -10 to 65dB HL
• Sound Field -10 to 90dB HL
• Inserts -10 to 95dB HL
• Masking Intensity Range: Speech Noise
• 0 to +100dB HL in 10 dB HL steps
Masking intensity range
• EL Calibration
• NBN: Maximum 0- 100dB HL
• WN: Maximum 0 - 90dB HL
Special test capabilities
• ABLB , SISI, MLD
• High Frequency: Frequency range of
8000 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Communications & monitoring
• Talk Forward
• Talk Back
• Monitor
Accessories
• Head phones TDH 39 (49/50)
• Bone Vibrator B71
• Test Microphones
• Talk Back Microphones
• Power Cords
• Instruction Manual
• Sound Field System
• Paired Insert Phones (Ear tone 3A)
• High Frequency HeadPhones
 TYPE 3- SIMPLE DIAGNOSTIC AUDIOMETER
• Single Channel: one oscillator.
(Variation includes Channel and a half: tone to one ear
& masking noise to the opposite ear.
• The spilt half single channel: ABLB).
• Outputs: Phones, bone, insert, free-field
• loudspeaker via ext. amplifier
• Tone Stimuli: Pure, pulsed or warble tones
• Frequency Range: Air, FF: 125 to 8,000 Hz
• Bone: 250 to 6,000 Hz
• Masking Signals: Contralateral; Speech Noise
or Narrow Band Noise
• Hearing Level Range: (maximum output
limited by transducer capability)
• Air: -10 to 120-125 dB HL at 500 - 6000 Hz
• Bone: -10 to 70 - 80 dB HL at 500 - 4000 Hz
Speech Input: Microphone or CD/Tape 1-2
Special Tests: S.I.S.I., Stenger, Auto
Threshold, Auto Screening.
• Power Supply: AC 50-60 Hz, 100 -120
V or 200 - 240 V, ± 10%
• Patient Safety: Complies with EN
60601-1, Class I, Type B
Standard Accessories:
• Patient Response Signal, ME70 Noise-
Excluding Headset w. TDH39/TDH49 or
TDH50 Earphones, in telephonic type
cushions
• Insert phones
• Bone Vibrator (B71)
• Calibration: ANSI S3.6 & IEC 645:1 & 2
for Type 3 audiometers.
 TYPE 4 - AUDIOMETER

Technical specifications:
• Hearing Level Range: -10 to 90 dB HL in 5 dB steps
• Tone Stimulus: Pure tone
• Frequency Range: 125 to 8,000 Hz
• Accuracy:
a) Frequencies: better than ± 3%
b) Hearing Level: within ± 3 dB of indicated level from 125 to 5000Hz &
±5 dB at 6000 Hz and higher.
• Total Harmonic Distortion: < 2%
• Standards: EN 60645-1 for Audiometers, Type 4
• Calibration: IEC 645, ANSI S3.6 for Type 4 audiometers.
 Specifications of basic model audiometer are
listed below:
Frequency range:
Air conduction (AC) : 250Hz, 500 Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz, 4KHz, 6KHz and 8KHz
Bone conduction (BC) : 250Hz, 500 Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz, 4KHz,

Intensity range:
Air conduction (AC) : 0dB to 110dB
Bone conduction (BC) : 0dB to 70dB

Noise type : Narrow band noise & white noise

Levels : 0 dB to 100dB

Input for Speech : live voice / recorded voice

Levels : 0 dB to 100dB
V.U meter & other controls :
Transducers:
i) 2 supra aural headphone for sound field testing with rubber ear cushion and
headband – one each for separate ears considered equivalent to TDH 39
ii) Bone conduction Vibrator Type Radioear B7 or equivalent

Routing of signal : either to Right ear or left

Selector for signal routing: A. Head Phones Right/Left/or Bone Vibrator.

B.Tone or speech

Signal selection : Continuous tone or Pulsed tone or warble tone

Attenuation : In 5 dB steps; after 100 dB a change in intensity will be

Separately controlled by push button increase of 5 dB till the maximum (pushing
button will result in only single step increase).
TRANSDUCERS
FOR
AUDIOMETER
 TRANSDUCERS CONVERT ONE FORM OF ENERGY INTO
ANOTHER

▪ Headphones/loudspeakers/inserts: electrical to acoustic

▪ Bone vibrator: electrical to mechanical

SUPRA AURAL HEADPHONES
EG: TDH 39P, TDH 49P, TDH 50P, TDH 51P, MX 41/AR

▪ The popularity of supra-aural phones was

mainly due to their ease of calibration and the
lack of other types of commercially available
earphones.
▪ Cushion rests on the pinna
▪ Earphones
▪ Circular cushion – molded rubber(single piece
or double piece cushions)
▪ Headband
▪ Y shaped device
▪ frequency range for Supra aural : 100-8000
STATIC HEAD BAND FORCE
▪ Measured with
▪ Calibrated strain gauge
▪ Electromechanical force transducer
▪ 4.5 ± 0.5 N (ANSI s3.6-2004)
CIRCUM- AURAL HEADPHONES
▪ Circumaural earphones have cushions that
encircle the pinna.
▪ Static head band force: 9-10N
▪ Sennheiser HAD 200
▪ Koss Corporation HV/1A
▪ ANSI (2010) describes reference equivalent
threshold SPL values (SPL values
corresponding to 0 dB HL) for Sennheiser
model HDA200 and Koss model HV/1A
earphones.
▪ Frequency range >8000Hz.
▪ These earphones and the Etymotic ER-2
insert earphones are the only ones in the
current standard that have reference values
covering the extended high frequencies (8 to
20 kHz).
INSERT EARPHONES
▪ Shoulder mounted transducer.
▪ Insert earphones are coupled to the ear by
placing a probe tip, typically a foam plug,
into the ear canal.
▪ Sound tube, ear tip tube.
▪ Foam ear tip.
▪ Inserts: frequency range=100-4000
(extends up to 8KHz)
▪ Models: ER 3A, ER 5A
ADVANTAGES OF INSERT
EARPHONES
▪ One major advantage is that insert earphones yield
higher levels of inter aural attenuation than supra-
aural earphones (Killion and Villchur, 1989).
▪ This reduces the need for masking the non test ear
and decreases the number of masking dilemmas,
situations for which thresholds cannot be
assessed, because the presentation level of the
masking noise is possibly too high.
▪ Another important advantage of insert earphones
over supra-aural earphones is lower test–retest
variability for thresholds obtained at 6 and 8 kHz.
▪ A third advantage that insert earphones offer is
elimination of collapsed ear canals (Killion and
Villchur, 1989.
▪ A fourth advantage of insert earphones is that they
can be easily used with infants and toddlers who
cannot or will not tolerate supra-aural earphones.
▪ A fifth advantage of insert earphones is the option
of conducting middle-ear testing and otoacoustic
emission testing without changing the earphones;
some recently introduced diagnostic instruments
use this approach.
▪ Insert earphones offer a hygienic advantage over
supra-aural earphones, because the foam tips that
are placed into a client’s ear canal are disposable
DISADVANTAGES
▪ The replacement cost of those tips is
prohibitive for many applications.
▪ Insert earphones also yield errant
thresholds in persons with eardrum
perforations, including pressure-
equalization tubes (Voss et al., 2000).
▪ Insert earphones also have maximum
output levels that are lower than those
produced by supra-aural earphones for
some frequencies.
LOUDSPEAKERS
▪ AC thresholds can be measured using
speakers as the transducer. Thresholds so
obtained are known as sound-field
thresholds.
▪ Sound-field thresholds are unable to
provide ear-specific sensitivity estimates.
▪ Applications for sound-field thresholds are
screening infant hearing or demonstrating
to the parents their child’s hearing ability.
Sound-field thresholds may also be
desirable for a person wearing a hearing
aid or cochlear implant
▪ In sound-field threshold measures, the
orientation of the listener to the speaker
has a large effect on stimulus level
presented at the eardrum. A person’s head
and torso as well as the external ear (e.g.,
pinna, ear canal, concha) affect sound
levels (Shaw, 1974).
▪ Differences in SPL at the eardrum are
substantial for speaker locations at
different distances and different angles
relative to the listener.
▪ Another important consideration in sound- ▪ Loudspeaker: electrical energy ➔
field threshold measures is the stimulus acoustical sound energy
type.
▪ Electrical input ➔ A/C current in coil ➔
▪ Puretones- leads to standing waves- hence diaphragm vibration ➔ sound waves
warble tone/ narrow band noise is used. Omnidirectional pattern
 SPEAKER FEATURES
100- 10,000 Hz

0-100 dB

Electrically isolated

Low distortion
LOUDSPEAKERS TYPES
▪ What differentiates the basic types of speakers is Based on frequency response
the part of the audio spectrum a particular speaker
is capable of reproducing from the electric signal
fed to it. Speaker 1 – bandwidth A
▪ Speakers are, essentially, required to create
vibrations in its surrounding air that is
proportional to the electrical signal fed to it.
Speaker 2- bandwidth B
▪ Due to the mechanical nature of construction, a
speaker is not able to reproduce the entire audio
spectrum of 20 Hz to 20 Khz that a human ear is
capable of distinguishing. Speaker 3- bandwidth C
 SPEAKER TYPES
▪  There are essentially three basic types of
speakers, depending on the frequencies they
are able to reproduce well.
▪ Frequencies lower than 20 Hz also add to the
listening experience by producing the
vibration that can be felt physically by people.
▪ Speaker construction differs based on what
diaphragm is made to vibrate in response to
the electrical audio signal. There are several
arrangements that are used. However, the most
common and popular construction is the voice
coil type
▪ The Midrange Speakers: The mid-range
speaker, or the speaker that covers most of the
middle frequency range, is the main basic type
of speaker.
▪ Woofers-Woofers are drivers specially
constructed that reproduce lower frequencies
of the audio spectrum well.
▪ Tweeters
▪ Similarly the tweeters are specially constructed
to handle the top frequencies or the shrill notes
well.
BONE VIBRATOR

Electromagnetic transducer

A head band
BONE VIBRATOR: FEATURES
Size

Shape

Weight

Encapsulation

Frequency response
 • 20 gm.
Radio ear B 71
• 250- 4000 Hz

• 28 gm.
Radio ear B72
• 250- 4000 Hz

• 96 gm.
KH 70
• From 8000- 16000 Hz
 INPUT TRANSDUCERS
Microphone:
❑Earlier it was carbon microphones – selected
because of the frequency response which could be Live voice testing:
matched to the ear. • Need broad frequency
❑Recent ones- broad / flat response that makes it response to encompass the
easier to modify its output as needed. entire phonemes.
❑Type of microphone used will vary depending upon
its use. • ANSI S3.6- 1996 standards
indicates that the frequency
response of microphones
Types of microphone: should be flat within +/-3dB
❖ Communication- microphone need to have in the frequency range of
frequency response range adequate for speech 125 Hz to 8000 Hz.
signals if used to do speech testing.
❖ Wide frequency response – easier phoneme
identification.
❖ Should be sensitive to pick up the faint voice also.
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE
AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS
FOR AUDIOMETRY
 SCOPE, PURPOSE, AND APPLICATIONS

▪ All encompassing noise normally associated with A given environment.

▪ Ambient noise level is measured with a sound level meter. It is usually measured in dB
relative to A reference pressure of 0.00002 pa, I.E., 20 μpa (micropascals) in SI units.
▪  Most frequently ambient noise levels are measured using a frequency weighting filter, the
most common being the a-weighting scale, such that resulting measurements are denoted
db(a).
▪ However, if the ambient noise level is excessively high, some hearing threshold levels
measured in that environment will be inaccurate.
▪ This occurs because excessively high ambient noise will create an elevation of hearing
threshold levels. This is A psychoacoustic phenomenon called masking.
▪ Ambient noise levels in an audiometric room clearly depends upon the purpose of use.
▪ Complete exclusion of ambient noise is not feasible ( structural and cost considerations).
▪ To ensure that hearing tests are not influenced by excessive ambient noise masking, there is a need to
specify maximum permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLS) that can be allowed in an
audiometric test room.
▪ This is true particularly when testing is done at sound pressure levels for pure tones corresponding to
0 dB hearing level.
▪ Hence American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has specified (ANSI S3.1-1991) maximum
permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLS) allowed in an audiometric test room that would
produce negligible masking of pure tones presented down to o-db HL for two test conditions (ears
covered, ears not covered) and three test frequency ranges (125-8000 hz, 250-8000 hz, 500-8000
hz).
▪ There is a need to specify MPANLS for different audiometric conditions, test frequency ranges, and
earphone types that will permit testing at reference equivalent threshold levels specified in ANSI
S3.6- 1996.
▪ This standard includes the specification and measurement of MPANLS in an audiometric test room.
▪ Within this standard, MPANLS are specified for octave and one-third octave band intervals from 125
to 8000 Hz for the audiometric conditions of testing with ears covered using a supra-aural and insert
earphone and ears not covered for the test frequency ranges 125 to 8000 Hz, 250 to 8000 Hz, and
500 to 8000 Hz.
▪ The purpose is to specify MPANLS in an audiometric test room and measurement procedures that
will produce negligible masking.
▪ MPANLs Were originally specified in ANSI S3.1-1960 “criteria for background noise in audiometer
rooms” and were consistent with reference thresholds (ASA Z24.5-1951) in use at that time. ANSI
S3.1-1960 was revised— ANSI S3.1-1977 “criteria for permissible ambient noise during
audiometric testing”— as a result of the acceptance of significantly lower reference threshold levels
specified in ANSI S3.6-1969
▪ The MPANLs specified in this Standard are based upon the presumption that negligible threshold shift (</=
2dB)will occur for most listeners when pure tone thresholds are obtained in the presence of noise having an
effective level near the listener’s unmasked thresholds.
▪ Measurements of MPANLs is established in two situations
1. Ears covered
2. Ears uncovered
Test frequencies:
▪ 125- 8000Hz
▪ 250- 8000Hz
▪ 500-8000Hz
 Ears covered. Ears not covered

▪ Listening situation where both ears are ▪ Listening situation where either one or both
covered simultaneously by earphones mounted ears are not covered with an earphone in a
in supra-aural cushions held in place by a supra-aural cushion or a foam ear tip of an
headband insert earphone has not been inserted into the
ear canal as would be typical for pure tone
▪ When foam ear tips of insert earphones have
bone conduction audiometry.
been inserted into each ear canal with an
insertion depth of 0–3 mm as would be the
usual case for pure tone air conduction
audiometry.
 CONDITIONS FOR AMBIENT NOISE
MEASUREMENTS.
▪ During all measurements, the ambient noise conditions in an audiometric test room shall
represent the worst possible conditions under which hearing tests might be conducted.
▪ All possible noise sources shall be considered and those that may interfere with the hearing
tests shall be operating.
▪ This would include in-take and out-take exhaust fans and other ventilation systems, lights,
audiometer, amplifiers, and other instrumentation located in the audiometric test room.
▪ Those noises which occur only occasionally and which are readily avoided in the normal
testing protocol need not be considered.
▪ However, if hearing testing is being conducted when an occasional noise occurs that was not
present during the measurement, steps should be taken to ensure that the noise did not
influence the hearing test results.
 MEASUREMENT OF AMBIENT NOISE SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS.

▪ Measurements shall be conducted in the audiometric test room with the microphone of the sound level meter
placed at the center of the location or locations that could be occupied by a listener’s head.
▪ Octave or one-third octave band measurements shall be conducted within the inclusive range of 125 to 8000
Hz. Specifically, octave band measurements shall be conducted at 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000
Hz.
▪ One-third octave band measurements shall be conducted at 125, 250, 500, 800, 1000, 1600, 2000, 3150, 4000,
6300, and 8000 Hz.
▪ The most desirable and recommended way to measure ambient noise in an audiometric test room is through the
use of a sound level meter and filter combination.

▪ A psychoacoustic check of the ambient noise levels for ears covered testing in the audiometric test room shall
be performed using at least two normally hearing listeners .
▪ The normally hearing listeners shall be placed in the usual location in the audiometric test room and fitted with
the earphones in the standard manner during a time in which hearing measurements would normally be
conducted
▪ The hearing level dial of the audiometer shall be placed at 0 dB for each test frequency to be employed in the
actual testing.
▪ The normally hearing listeners shall correctly respond at least two times to each test frequency pure tone at
0 dB and carefully listen for beats, any evidence of ambient noise masking, and for direct acoustic
radiation from the audiometer or any instrumentation that may be located in the audiometric test room.
▪ The audiometric test room is satisfactory for testing hearing at reference equivalent threshold levels if each
normally hearing listener responded to each test frequency pure tone at 0 dB and did not report hearing
any other sound that could possibly mask or interfere with hearing measurements.
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS FOR
AUDIOMETRY(ANSI S3 -1- 1999)
 NORMATIVE REFERENCE- STANDARDS
▪ [1] ANSI S1.1-1994 American National Standard Acoustical Terminology.
▪ [2] ANSI S1.4-1983 (R 1994) American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters.
▪ [3] ANSI S1.4A-1985 Amendment to S1.4-1983.
▪ [4] ANSI S1.6-1984 (R 1994) American National Standard Preferred Frequencies, Frequency Levels, and
Band Numbers for Acoustical Measurements.
▪ [5] ANSI S1.11-1986 (R 1993) American National Standard Specification for Octave-Band and Fractional-
Octave-Band Analog and Digital Filters.
▪ [6] ANSI S3.6-1989 American National Standard Specification of Audiometers.
▪ [7] ANSI S3.6-1996 American National Standard Specification of Audiometers.
▪ [8] ANSI S3.20-1995 American National Standard Bioacoustical Terminology.
▪ [9] ANSI S3.21-1978 (R 1992) American National Standard Method for Manual Pure Tone Audiometry.
▪ [10] ANSI S12.6-1997 American National Standard Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of
Hearing Protectors.
CALIBRATION OF AUDIOMETERS
▪ A pure tone audiometer is capable of generating signals from 125
through 8000 Hz. An extended high-frequency audiometer covers this
frequency range plus higher frequencies from 8000 through 16,000 Hz
▪ Most audiometers also can produce noises used for masking test
signals. The test signals are delivered by a transducer, which can be an
 
earphone, loudspeaker, or bone vibrator.
▪ The more accurate and precise an audiometer is, the greater the
probability that the audiologist will make a correct judgment and the
lower risk and consequences of a poor decision
 AUDIOMETER STANDARDS

▪ All standards related to audiometry are the domain of the Standards Committee S3
(Bioacoustics) of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI).
▪ S3 Committee is to develop and publish standards, specifications, methods of measurement and
test, and terminology in the fields of psychological and physiological acoustics, including
aspects of general acoustics, which pertain to biological safety, tolerance, and comfort.
▪ Most of the ANSI standards are aligned with  international standards published by the
International Organization of Standards (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC).
▪ The primary ANSI standard related to audiometric tests is ANSI S3.6 (2010) American
National Standard Specification of Audiometers.
● There are many reasons for an audiometer to lose its accuracy. The time-induced
changes (drift) in parameters of the audiometer diminish accuracy and reliability
of measurement results.
● To ensure that the drifts do not exceed specified tolerances, an electroacoustic
calibration of the audiometer needs to be performed periodically by an accredited
laboratory or a qualified individual.
● Technical, instrument-based assessment of an audiometer is typically referred to
as electroacoustic calibration and this term will be used in this article to
differentiate it from the supplementary biological calibration described below.
● Electroacoustic calibration ensures that the audiometer performs within its
specifications and ensures that the readings from the instrument are consistent
with readings from other audiometers conforming to the same common standard.
 ▪ Assures that audiometer produces a pure tone at a
specific level & frequency, free from
distortions(noise)
▪ Assures that signal is present only in the transducer
WHY to which it is directed

CALIBRAT ▪ Assures that the audiometer meets the standards

▪ Assures that the instrument has not changed over
E time
● In addition to drift, parameters and properties of the audiometer may
change due to mechanical and electrical failures resulting from wear and
tear or mishandling of the instrument.
● The inaccuracy can also be a result of dropping of the earphones,
exposure to heat and humidity, excessive jarring and normal wear of the
electrical components.
● To identify such changes and to initiate a corrective action if needed, a
daily biological or listening check of the instrument needs to be
performed by the user.
 TYPES
▪ Biological, subjective, psychoacoustic
▪ Electroacoustic, objective
 ▪ Biologic:
▪ Daily listening check
▪ Monthly listening check

WHEN TO ▪ Electroacoustic
▪ Monthly
CALIBRATE? ▪ Quarterly
▪ Yearly
▪ In 5 years
 1. Connections, plugs, cords
2. Dials
3. Audible clicks
a) Mechanical clicks
BIOLOGIC b) Electronic clicks
4. Hum or static
CHECK 5. Cross talk
6. Attenuator linearity
7. thresholds
 ● These checks should be done each day

BIOLOGICAL prior to client testing or anytime during

the day when there is reason to suspect
that the audiometer is not performing
CHECK properly.
● The biological check consists of two
elements: the self-listening check and
the hearing threshold check.
SELF LISTENING CHECKS:
● The self listening check involves listening for static, hum, noise, crackling and
popping sounds, and sound intensity changes while gently wiggling all wires
attached to the audiometer.
● Before testing the subject, check the earphone cords, earphones, dials of the
audiometer for gross defects.
● Switch on the audiometer and place the earphones over your ears and listen to
the signals and manipulate the controls on the audiometer.
● While listening to the tone, twist first one earphone cord and then the other
back and forth and pull the cord gently at a place close to the earphone.
● If the tone becomes intermittent either the cord is defective or screws holding
the cord in the earphone may be loose
● Listen to pure Lone signal at a high level and interrupt the tone several times and
listen for a "click" sound. If a click sound is heard just prior to the tone there is a
possibility for overshoot (short rise time of the signal) .
● Set the dial at-10 dB and increase the intensity of the tone in 5 dB steps to a high
level. Each time the intensity is raised listen carefully to check uniform increase in
the intensity dial. This gives a gross check of the linearity of the intensity dial.
● Without presenting the tone check for hum noise by raising the intensity to maximum
value. If a noise is detected, it can be eliminated by providing ground connection to
the chassis of the audiometer.
● Disconnect the Left earphone, set the output selector switch to the Left earphone, the
intensity dial to 40 dB, the frequency dial to any desired frequency and the interrupter
switch is kept on continuously.
● Listen through the Right earphone and if a pure tone is heard there is a crossover in
the system.
● The same check is made for the Left earphone.
● Crossover shows there is leakage of the test signal from the intended earphone to the
opposite earphone.
● This situation could result in an audiogram showing two normal ears, where, in fact,
one ear has a hearing loss.
● Presence of any of these undesired sounds requires further investigation and
remediation.
● If remediation is not successful, a qualified service technician should be consulted.
 HEARING THRESHOLD CHECK:
CALIBRATION OF AIR CONDUCTION OUTPUT LEVEL
First method:
● The hearing threshold check should involve threshold measurement of a person with
known and stable hearing thresholds.
● As a minimum, a hearing threshold on the better ear of the listener should be
performed with right (red) and left (blue) earphones.
● If measurements do not differ by more than 5 dB from each other and from the
known threshold of this person, the audiometer may be considered in calibration.
● If they differ more than 5 dB, the audiometer needs an electroacoustic calibration.
SECOND METHOD
● Select about 10 normal hearing adults without any history of ear problems, noise
exposure etc. Test one ear of each subject at all frequencies
● Find the average threshold at each frequency. Average threshold at each frequency
can be considered as a correction factor.
● Make sure that the noise levels in the testing room are within the maximum allowable
noise levels.
THIRD METHOD
● If a standard audiometer is available, detach one earphone from the head band of the
standard audiometer and place it on the head band of the audiometer to be calibrated
after removing one of its earphones.
● Place the earphones on the ears of normal hearing adult (nearly equal sensitivity in
both the ears).
● By alternate loudness balance method the audiometer can be calibrated. It is better if
loudness balances are made with three or more subjects.
THRESHOLD CHECK: CALIBRATION
OF BC OUTPUT LEVELS
● Testing normal subjects for checking the Bone conduction calibration has some
problems:
(1) Testing room must be adequately sound treated as Bone conduction testing is done
with un-occluded cars.
(2) Many normal subjects have Bone conduction thresholds lower than —10 dB (lower
than the lowest limit of the audiometer).
● Owing to the above problems Roach & Carhart (1971) have recommended a
method which happens to be the best available method for biological calibration
of the Bone conduction vibrator.
 ELECTROACOUSTIC CALIBRATION
▪ Completed by a licensed specialist at least annually
▪ Formal paperwork provided to document completion
▪ There are three levels of checks on the audiometer calibration.
▪ An acoustic calibration check involves using a sound level meter to measure the test
signals produced by the audiometer and verifying that these signals meet standard
specifications.
▪ A bioacoustic check involves using a bioacoustic simulator to monitor the output of
the audiometric headphones in order to verify that the output remains stable over
time.
▪ A functional check involves listening to the output through the headphones to
ensure that the signals are being routed properly and that there are no extraneous
sounds. In addition to these calibration checks, all audiometers will be sent to a
laboratory for an exhaustive calibration once a year, or whenever unresolvable
problems are discovered during the calibration checks.
Audiometer –> transducer –> coupler --> SLM

❑ Headphones: NBS 9A – 6cc/ Artificial ear

❑ Insert: occluded ear simulator/2cc
❑ Bone vibrator: artificial mastoid
❑ Speaker: No coupler
Instrumentation for calibration
Acoustic Couplers:

● A device that is used for the calibration of earphone output is the acoustic coupler.
● Acoustic coupler is a cavity of specific shape and volume that, with a calibrated microphone,
● Permits measurement of the sound pressure developed in the cavity.
● Couplers serve as the connecting interface between the earphone and the measuring instrument, which in
this case is the sound level meter.
● Primary function of a coupler is to provide a standard load to the earphone to allow for repeatable testing
conditions. In addition, a coupler must be standardized, reproducible, and stable.
● coupler to simulate the impedance of the human ear but the early couplers did not perform well compared
with the human ear
● More sophisticated couplers perform much better, and such couplers are called ear simulators.
● Because earphones come in different types (e.g., supra-aural, insert, and circumaural), several types of
acoustic couplers exist (ANSI S3.6 2010).

● The oldest of the currently used acoustic couplers, the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) 9-A coupler,
was developed to calibrate supra-aural earphones (ASA Z24.5 1951), and it can be used for measurement
of supra-aural audiometric earphones in the frequency range from 125 to 8000 Hz (IEC 60318-3 1998).

● The coupler is designed in such a way that the cushion of the earphone fits squarely over the mounting ring
on top of the coupler.

● A microphone is located in the base of the coupler, and there is air space between the earphone and the
microphone.

● The volume of this space is 6 cm3, which simulates the average volume of the adult ear canal.

● Given this specific volume, the NBS 9-A coupler is commonly known as a 6-cc coupler.

● During calibration, the earphone is held in place on the coupler with a standard 500-g weight
● Another coupler that better 316 matches the impedance of the human ear, the IEC 318 coupler, has been
introduced (IEC 60318-1 2009; IEC 60318-2 1998; ANSI S3.7 1995).

● IEC 318 coupler has three tuned tubes or ports. These small cavities closely match the acoustic
impedance of the air present in the ear canal.Enables a better approximation of the acoustics of the human
ear, and therefore this coupler is frequently referred to as an ear simulator.

● Compared with either a supra-aural or circumaural earphone, a smaller amount of air is trapped in the ear
canal when an insert earphone is properly placed.

● This volume approximates 2 cm3, and devices simulating this volume are referred to as
2-cc couplers. Three different types of 2-cc couplers currently are used to calibrate insert earphones.

● The HA-1 and HA-2 couplers are two variants of the IEC 126 coupler that differ in the way they
connect hearing aids to instrumentation used in the electroacoustic analysis
(IEC 60126 1973; IEC 60318-5 2006; ANSI S3.7 1995).
● The IEC 126 coupler was not intended to measure the actual performance of a hearing aid but rather
served as consistent means for exchanging data. The third type of 2-cc coupler is known as the IEC 711
coupler or occluded ear simulator (ANSI S3.25 2009; IEC 60318-4 2010).

● The IEC 711 ear simulator has an equivalent volume of 1.26 cm3 and was initially designed to simulate
human ear impedance from 100 to 7,000 Hz

● United States, a slightly different ear simulator was developed by Zwislocki13 and standardized by ANSI
in 1971 (ANSI S3.25 2009). This simulator is commonly called the
Zwislocki occluded ear simulator.

● Zwislocki coupler is no longer in production.

Sound Level Meter
● The output level of an earphone or loudspeaker is measured with a sound level meter.

● The sound level meter has a microphone that detects minute fluctuations in air pressure (ANSI S1.15 Part 1
1997).
● The microphone is extremely sensitive and its operation can be affected by temperature and humidity.

● Before audiometric calibration activities are undertaken, the sound level meter itself should be calibrated

● This is accomplished by attaching a calibrator (also known as a pistonphone) to the microphone. The calibrator
emits a fixed frequency, fixed level (e.g., 94- or 114-dB SPL) tone (ANSI S1.40 2006)

● The sound level meter is adjusted to match precisely the level of the tone and dditionally, the microphone is
not equally sensitive to all audiometric test frequencies. These deviations from zero need to be taken into
account.

● Using the frequency response chart that accompanies the microphone, the output level is adjusted up (if
positive) or down (if negative) by the amount of the deviation
● The meter shows SPL (in decibels) on either an analog (needle-type) or digital display
(ANSI S1.4 1983). Sound level meters are categorized by type, which relates to measurement precision.
● A type 1 sound level meter is the most precise and is required for exhaustive calibration.

● A sound level meter also has different frequency scales or weights. Each frequency weight essentially
describes a broad spectral configuration.

● When calibrating pure tones, these broad-frequency scales are eschewed in favor of the more specific
(i.e., narrower) spectral analysis permitted by bandpass filters.
Multimeter
● A multimeter is used to measure attenuator linearity. Attenuator linearity refers to the
change in output level of the audiometer as the HL dial is manipulated.

● The multimeter is so named because it can measure the three basic electrical properties of voltage, current,
and resistance.

● Voltage is the appropriate multimeter setting for quantifying output level. It

is important to note that most multimeters measure voltage on a linear scale (e.g., volts RMS).

● Because attenuator performance is the focus, the multimeter is inserted between the output of the
audiometer and the earphone. This type of connection is readily accomplished with a Ycord. The cord is
interposed between the audiometer at one end; the multimeter and earphone connected on either branch of
the Y at the other end.
Frequency Counter
● A frequency counter is used to assess the accuracy of an audiometer pure tone generator.
● As with the multimeter, the frequency counter is connected directly to the audiometer
● output.
● The measured frequency is read from the digital display in a straightforward way.

Spectrum Analyzer
● Frequency accuracy also can be measured with a spectrum analyzer.
● This instrument displays the output level on either a linear or logarithmic (decibel) scale as a function of
frequency.
● A cursor is moved to a given location to get specific reading of frequency and level.
● An added benefit of the spectrum analyzer is that because it displays a range of frequencies, it is possible
to determine whether the audiometer is generating significant harmonic distortion
Oscilloscope

● The oscilloscope has a screen for display purposes. The scope shows the waveform, which is the output
level as a function of time.

● The scope is especially helpful for examining a pure tone signal as it is turned on and off.

● The time it takes for the signal to go from completely off to on is known as the rise time.

● The fall time is just the opposite. The rise and fall times cannot be too abrupt or audible transients may
occur.

● These audible transients contain frequencies other than the test frequency and their presence reduces the
specificity of the hearing test.
 Used for calibration of both earphones
and circumaural earphones.
Compatible with earphones like TDH
39, TDH 49, TDH 50, HDA200 and
Koss HV/1A
Used for calibration of Bone Vibrator.
Mechanical coupler used to calibrate
bone conduction hearing aids and
audiometer bone vibrators

USED FOR CALIBRATION

OF SUPRA-AURAL
EARPHONES

For the measurement of

Used for calibration of insert
earphones coupled to
earphones
the ear by ear inserts
ASSEMBLING THE PARTS FOR EARPHONE
CALIBRATION
ASSEMBLING FOR CALIBRATION OF HEADPHONES
ASSEMBLING FOR INSERT EARPHONE CALIBRATION
ASSEMBLING FOR BC CALIBRATION
 ACOUSTIC CALIBRATION PROCESS FOR
HEADPHONES
1. Earphone (from audiometer) placed over “an artificial ear”/
Coupler that simulates an ear canal volume.
2. A microphone is placed on top of the artificial ear/ coupler
A. The artificial ear/ coupler is connected to a sound level meter
B. The earphone is connected to the audiometer

3. A signal is sent through the earphone from the audiometer

4. The output of the signal is measured from the SLM that connects
to the artificial ear
5. Audiometer is set at 70 dB HL
6. Output values obtained at SLM are compared to standards for
each frequency tested (Table 4.1)
 STEPS INVOLVED
Coupler that
connects with
earphone
Weight to hold
earphone in place
 REFERENCE VALUE: ANSI STANDARD

● +/- 3 dB SPL (0-5000 Hz) is defined as “within calibration”

● ± 5 dB (>6000Hz)

Output of
signal measured

Frequency of signal
measured
 CALIBRATION CHART
Ear: right /Left

frequency 125 250 500 750 1K 1.5 2K 3K 4K 6K 8K

K
Reference SPL 47.5 26.5 13.5 8.5 7.5 7.5 11 9.5 10.5 13.5 13

Attenuator dial setting 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70

Expected SPL 117.5 96.5 83.5 78.5 77.5 77.5 81.0 79.5 80.5 83.5 83.0

Actual SPL measured

Calibration error
± 1% - (type 1 and extended high
frequency audiometer)
± 2% - type 2
± 3% - type 3,4 ,5
CALIBRATION OF SPEECH SIGNAL

▪ Select speech settings

▪ Set intensity as 70 dB
▪ Adjust VU meter to zero
▪ Present the 1 kHz. calibration tone of recorded speech
▪ The SLM should read it as 70+ 20 dB
SOUND FIELD CALIBRATION
▪ Signal from loudspeaker is picked up by SLM which is placed at a location where the patient’s
head will be normally located

▪ Reference levels:
✔Binaural: 14.5 dB
✔Monaural: 16.5 dB
SUMMARY
▪ Calibration is of two types : biological and electroacoustic
▪ Biological calibration: daily, monthly
▪ Electroacoustic: monthly , quarterly and yearly
BIOLOGICAL CALIBRATION

▪ Connections, plugs, cords are proper?

▪ Dials are working?
▪ Audible clicks
a) mechanical clicks
b) Electronic clicks
▪ Hum or static when high intensity is selected?
▪ Cross talk
▪ Attenuator linearity
▪ Thresholds
▪ Biological calibration for BC in SNHL
ELECTROACOUSTIC CALIBRATION

▪ Sound level calibration - SLM

▪ Linearity check- SLM
▪ Frequency calibration - frequency counter
▪ Cross talk
▪ On- off SPL
▪ Distortion check- SLM with 1/3rd octave band filter
▪ Rise and fall time, overshoot- SLM connected to oscilloscope
▪ Sound field calibration
▪ BC calibration- artificial mastoid
▪ Speech signal calibration