Understanding Audiometer Calibration: Key Insights for Occupational Health
Ensuring the accurate calibration of audiometers is essential in occupational health settings to provide precise hearing assessments. This blog provides comprehensive insights into the calibration requirements for both fixed and mobile audiometric equipment, highlighting industry standards and best practices.
Calibration of Audiometric Equipment
Fixed Audiometric Units:
- Annual Electro-Acoustic Calibration: All fixed audiometric units must undergo electro-acoustic calibration annually to ensure accuracy and reliability. The testing environment (acoustic environment) must comply with SANS10182 standards and be certified annually to maintain the integrity of audiometric assessments.
Mobile Audiometric Units:
- Electro-Acoustic Calibration Interval: According to SANS10154-1:2012, Annex A, mobile units must be calibrated either before moving to a new site and upon return or every three months, whichever period is shorter. This ensures the units remain within specified design limits, and should include climatic conditions.
Applicable Standards for Audiometric testing in the occupational health setting
- SANS 10083:2023 (Ed. 6.01): The measurement and assessment of occupational noise for hearing conservation purposes
- SANS 10182:2006 (Ed. 2.02): The measurement and assessment of acoustic environments for audiometric tests
- SANS 10154-1:2012 (Ed. 1.03): Calibration of pure-tone audiometers Part 1: Air conduction
- SANS 8253-1:2011 (Ed. 2.00): Acoustics – Audiometric test methods Part 1: Pure-tone air and bone conduction audiometry
- SANS 50458:2008 (Ed. 2.00): Hearing protectors – Recommendations for selection, use, care and maintenance – Guidance document
Conclusion
Proper calibration of audiometers, whether fixed or mobile, is crucial for accurate hearing assessments in occupational health. Adhering to established standards and incorporating modern verification methods can enhance the reliability and efficiency of audiometric testing.
