Audiologist Daily Checks for Equipment Malfunction

What should an audiologist check daily for signs of wear or cracking?

What is a possible sign of a defective cord when listening to the tone through the transducer?

What should be done if tightening the earphone plug connections does not solve a problem with the audiometer cords?

According to ANSI S3.6-2010, what should be checked concerning audible mechanical transients during audiometry testing?

What is recommended by the ANSI standard for detecting mechanical transients during audiometry testing?

How should an audiologist handle defective dials on the audiometer?

What is the danger of an audible transient, whether mechanical or electronic?

How can an audiologist detect cross-talk between earphones?

What should be checked if the threshold levels are not within 10 dB of the previous values for a clinician or a person with known hearing thresholds?

What might happen if there is 'cross-talk' between earphones in an audiometric test?

What may indicate a problem with an audiometer when a tone is present at 20 dB HL on the dial but not at 15 dB HL?

How can electronic transients be eased according to the text?

Daily Maintenance for Audiologists

Check for signs of wear or cracking on the audiometer daily.

Identifying Defective Cords

A possible sign of a defective cord is when the tone is not clear or has issues when listening through the transducer.

Troubleshooting Audiometer Cords

If tightening the earphone plug connections does not solve a problem with the audiometer cords, further investigation is required.

ANSI Standards for Audiometry Testing

According to ANSI S3.6-2010, audible mechanical transients during audiometry testing should be checked.
The ANSI standard recommends using a sound level meter or an acoustic analysis system to detect mechanical transients during audiometry testing.

Handling Defective Audiometer Components

Defective dials on the audiometer should be handled by replacing them or sending the audiometer for repair.

Dangers of Audible Transients

Audible transients, whether mechanical or electronic, can cause overestimation of thresholds or false test results.

Detecting Cross-Talk Between Earphones

An audiologist can detect cross-talk between earphones by checking for a difference in threshold levels between the two ears or by using a cross-talk meter.

Investigating Threshold Level Issues

If the threshold levels are not within 10 dB of the previous values for a clinician or a person with known hearing thresholds, the audiometer and testing environment should be checked.

Consequences of Cross-Talk Between Earphones

Cross-talk between earphones can result in inaccurate test results, such as thresholds that are not representative of the true hearing ability.

Identifying Audiometer Problems

If a tone is present at 20 dB HL on the dial but not at 15 dB HL, it may indicate a problem with the audiometer.

Reducing Electronic Transients

Electronic transients can be eased by using a transient eliminator or by using an audiometer with built-in transient reduction features.

Learn about the areas of potential malfunction that an audiologist should check daily, including inspecting cords for wear or cracking and listening to tones for static or intermittent sound. Understand the troubleshooting steps to follow if an issue is detected.