Looking to a soundproof room for accurate audiometry? Say no more.
As an expert in acoustical products, I know the importance of finding the right solutions in soundproofing an area for audiometry.
It’s important to begin with an understanding of audiometry and its requirements. Although some of my customers are familiar, I think it’s best to understand audiometry a bit more. Here’s why:
Some customers I talk to are looking for a series of products they can use to treat a room specifically for audiometry, while others are looking for a standalone product they can buy and place into an open space without changing the physical space itself.
Finding the best products to create a soundproof room for audiometry means you have to understand how acoustics work and how your space impacts it. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better handle on what you specifically need to achieve professional results with audiometric testing in your space.
What is Audiometry and What is an Audiometric Booth?
IAC Audiometric Booth #252
Audiometry is a diagnostic test to gauge someone’s hearing ability and determine whether or not there are any impairments that could use correction. Typically these tests are performed in an audiometric booth, by an audiologist or other trained healthcare professional. Because the testing is to measure a person’s sensitivity to sounds and the softest sounds that they can hear, it is absolutely imperative for the audiometric booth to be soundproofed so that no outside noise can penetrate and cause inaccurate measurements.
In short, having a properly soundproofed audiometric booth is critical to the results audiologists need in order to make the proper diagnosis and help those with hearing issues find a meaningful solution.
5 Things to Look for in a Professional Audiometric Booth
1. Sound Isolation
This may seem obvious, but if a supposed audiometric booth cannot provide professional sound isolation, it’s not going to be very useful. Patients who are being tested will be listening for discreet sounds so any sound outside of what the audiologist is playing cannot be allowed to be heard. It’s imperative for the booth to be fully soundproofed so that no external (or internal – see below) can enter.
2. Ventilation
Having someone sit in a confined area means you have to consider the climate inside, especially in a booth that is tightly soundproofed. Any HVAC system operating in the building cannot penetrate, so the climate inside the booth needs to be managed independently. In addition to temperature, you must consider the air quality, too. A patient may not last long enough to participate in the diagnostic test if there isn’t sufficient airflow! It’s also important for a patient to be comfortable for test results to be accurate. Imagine trying to listen to barely perceptible sounds while overheating or feeling slightly out of breath. It takes your mind away from what should be your singular focus, and can potentially cause inaccurate results.
The curious situation here is one of adding ventilation to a quiet space, but doing so in such a manner that it remains soundproof. Quality audiometric booths offer the ventilation necessary to keep the patient comfortable and prevent the ventilation system from imparting unwanted sound and noise.
3. Size and Customization
A professional audiometric booth needs to be sizable enough for the tests to be performed accurately. If it is too small, the patient jostling around could cause issues. Most importantly, and as mentioned above, patient comfort is critical, so the space needs to be large enough for the patient to be able to sit without any claustrophobic anxiety.
4. Accessibility for Testing Equipment
Additionally, audiometric booths need to be more than just a properly sized, soundproofed, and well-ventilated cube. You could easily make something like this with soundproofing materials rather quickly from scratch, but that’s only part of the story. All of the necessary equipment needs to be appropriately wired, staged, and accessible so that accurate results can be achieved. The best audiometric booths come pre-wired and ready for audiologists and healthcare professionals to be able to quickly plug in their equipment and have it set up so that it is not harming the testing sequences and also readily accessible to the operator.
5. Durability
The durability of an audiometric booth needs to be of high quality to prevent any issues that may negatively affect test results. Even then, a wonky, janky booth may not impede accuracy, but it may not hold up long term, and no one wants to be constantly replacing audiometric booths when they need to be running tests When assessing audiometric booths, it’s important to verify that the structure is durable and can handle patients moving in and out without damaging the structure itself, and keeping the equipment safe within.
A One-Stop Solution: The IAC AudioMetric Booth
IAC Audiometric Sound Booth
The IAC AudioMetric Booth is the perfect way to acquire a properly soundproofed audiometric booth suited for your specific clinical needs. The booth is portable and can be quickly altered to right-hand or left-hand configurations. It is specially engineered with a double acoustic window, Noise-Lock® magnetic seal doors for safety, and Tranquil-Aire® silent forced ventilation system to keep the patient comfortable without negatively impacting your ability to accurately perform diagnostic testing. Readied for testing out of the box, the IAC AudioMetric Booth offers a completely pre-wired flush-mounted jack panel that consists of six (6) Switchcraft 3-wire phone type jacks.
Secure a Professional Audiometric Booth with Acoustical Solutions
The IAC AudioMetric Booth is a fantastic one-stop solution to solve the issue of a professional audiometric booth for accurate testing results. There may be other acoustical concerns in your profession’s space that could be treated, whether improving communication with sound absorbing acoustic panels, or completely soundproofing rooms with soundproofing materials and products. Reach out to me today and we can further discuss your audiometric needs and get you the solution quickly!
To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.
