Having your audiology equipment calibrated yearly may seem like a chore, but it’s necessary. Every test result must be based on the most accurate signal that can be obtained. Regular calibration of your equipment ensures that the hearing level that is indicated by the audiometer complies with the strict values that are set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the product manufacturer’s specific references for hearing thresholds.

Properly maintaining and caring for your audiology equipment is paramount. A new hearing screening or diagnostic instrument isn’t cheap, so you want to get as many years out of it as possible. However, regardless of how well you’ve taken care of your audiometer, tympanometer, or OAE, there comes a time when you need to consider upgrading your equipment to ensure you’re operating at your most efficient and your patients are receiving the best treatment possible.

Are you looking to upgrade your industrial audiometry equipment? e3 Diagnostics has a selection of audiometers for occupational health professionals available from the world’s leading manufacturers. Here are Four worth checking out:

Excessive exposure to loud noise is an unfortunate aspect of many jobs. When anyone is exposed to 8 hours of 85 dBA or higher every workday, without proper protection, damage can and usually does occur. So, which tools and equipment generate damaging levels of noise on the jobsite? Here’s a list of the top ten culprits, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

GSI released updates to the TympStar Pro™ in early 2019. The updates include several requested enhancements, as well as two new tests. As with many of GSI’s products, the TympStar Pro has many features that help with efficiency and workflow. The TympStar Pro can function without these features; however, our users don’t always implement them immediately.

Over the last several decades, the entertainment industry has produced numerous films and television shows that focus on characters who have some degree of hearing loss. One of the most memorable examples is The Miracle Worker (1962), the true story of Annie Sullivan teaching Helen Keller to understand words through signs and motions made with her fingers in Keller’s hands. It’s a powerful, well-written film that’s elevated by strong, Oscar-winning performances from Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke.

The video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) is a relatively new test that provides diagnostic and functional information about the vestibular system, specifically the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR.)  The vHIT has its roots in the head impulse test (HIT), during which the evaluator quickly moves the patients head from side to side as the patient fixates on a point.  The evaluator watches the patient’s eyes to verify that they remain fixated throughout the movement.  If the patient is unable to maintain fixation, catch-up saccades will be observed which are indicative of a vestibular deficit.  The challenge with the HIT is that, while it is possible to observe catch-up saccades after the head movement has stopped (called overt saccades), it is not possible to see catch-up saccades that occur during the head movement (covert saccades.) 

Loss of balance is an all-too-common symptom in medical conditions associated with aging. The brain, muscles, bones, nerves and inner ear all work together to maintain the body’s balance. Because vestibular dysfunction makes it difficult for a person to maintain their balance, they are highly susceptible to falling, which makes it extremely important for them to remain active.

The Video Head Impulse Test, or vHIT, is an instrumented technique that is used to help diagnose reduction in vestibular function in one ear versus the other. Using a lightweight, high-speed video goggle to measure left or right eye velocity and record any abnormalities, vHIT gives hearing health professionals the ability to quickly and objectively measure the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) in response to a patient’s head movements within the normal range of daily motions.

There are no secret remedies that a person can rub into their ears to miraculously treat their hearing loss, nor is there is a “Get Your Hearing Back in 3 Weeks Diet.” No shortcuts like that exist. However, studies have shown that your diet can affect your hearing health.