04 Audiometry 2022 2023 v1

Audiometry
The aim: «To measure the hearing threshold at different frequencies.»
1
MF Fizikas katedra@RSU 2022
Davidovits, P. Physics in biology and
Relevant reading medicine. Amsterdam: Academic Press,
an imprint of Elsevier.
Chapter 12
2
sound, sound audibility, hearing threshold,
frequency, degree of hearing loss,
#keywords audiogram, sound waves, pain threshold,
intensity, pressure, volume, tone of voice,
timbre, auscultation, percussion
3
“To hear” and “to measure”
Audio-metry
“To hear” - Sound perception
20Hz to 20kHz (Human Audio Spectrum)
4
Sound
Sound – variation of pressure in a medium
Sound – wave (longitudinal)
Sound is composed of frequencies withing

the range of hearing
5
Wave types
http://www.dzm.lu.lv/fiz/IT/F_10/default.aspx@tabid=3&id=320.html
6
Hearing
Perception of sound – limited to certain
frequencies. Frequency range – 20 to 20 000
Hz
Threshold of pain: Nominal dynamic range of

human hearing is from the standard threshold of
perception (hearing) until the threshold of pain
(for humans it is about 120 decibels).
Threshold of hearing/perception = 0 I0
Threshold of pain = 1013 I0
I0 = 10-12 W/m2 sound level at the beginning of

the scale (zero) level or sound intensity, if its
frequency is 1000 Hz, the corresponding sound
pressure is p0 = 2x10-5 Pa.
7
Conduction of sound in the ear
• Airborne sound are channeled into the outer ear
throught the ear-canal
• It vibrate the eardrum, which moves the bones
of the middle ear (the hammer, anvil and
stirrup) which
• vibrates the outer edge of the cochlea,
• which send vibration waves to the hairs in the
fluid filled inner ear
• which sends neuron signals to the brain
• which interprets the signals and creates what
we recognize as sounds.
The fluid gives oxygen to the inner ear

otherwise the pulse of the blood vessels would
deafen us.
8
Intensity [W/m2]
• Soundpower (Pac) per unit area (A)
Soundpower – sonic energy (E) per time (t) [W]
(source radiates certain amount of energy per time)
Physical
• Important for noise intensity measurements.
Pressure [Pa]
• Local pressure deviation from the average atmospheric
pressure caused by soundwaves.
characteristics
The force (N) of sound on a surface area (A).
Frequency [Hz]
• Defines the number of oscillations per one second.
of sound
Loudness
• Ordering sound on a scale extending from quiet to loud
(Subjective measure).
Tone Pitch
• Perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds
on a frequency related scale (Subjective measure).
Timbre
• Quality of musical sounds, that distinguishes different
types of sound products (Both – subjective and
objective). 9
Sound Waves
• Harmonies;
• overtones;
• sound perception.
Image credit:
http://prr.univ-lille1.fr/wiki/Fichier:Fourieranalysis.png 10
Decibels
Sound pressure/intensity....level.
The level in dB is a logarithmic unit used
to describe a ratio.
3 dB doubles sound intensity.
Let’s say a reasonable range is from 50 dB (background noise

in a TV studio) to 110 (very loud) - 60 dB.
Going from 50 dB to 53 dB is a doubling in level. 53 dB to 56 dB

is another doubling. 53 dB to 59 is another doubling.
If the noise level increases by 60 dB, the signal is 1,000,000

times larger.
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Audiogram
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«Hearing banana»
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Acoustic methods
in clinical use
• Auscultation – Done with a stethoscope.
• Percussion – Tapping on a surface to
determine the underlaying structure.
• Clinical audiometry – Identifying hearing
thresholds.
• Phonocardiography – Diagnosing heart
valves.
Image credit: David Plunkert

https://www.davidplunkert.com/2019/5/10/04ev0c1pf2bdisn9s51q5n9p592p0p
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Auscultation
Performed with a stethoscope.
Image credit:
https://www.medilogbiohealth.com/2021/03/parts-of-stethoscope.html
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Percussion
Knocking the surface to determine the
basic structure.
Moinuddin, B. (2013). Automated Classification of Medical Percussion Signals for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary
Injuries.
16
Clinical audiometry
Clinical method for determining the
threshold of hearing.
Image credit:
https://www.paciorekfacialplasticsurgery.com/ear-nose-throat/hearing-tests/
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Phonocardiography
Examination of heart valves.
Image credit:
https://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/Hardware/hardw/773
Luisada, A. A., & Aravanis, C. (1957). Phonocardiography as a clinical method of examination.

Medical Clinics of North America, 41(1), 235-267.
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• Sound – longitudinal wave variation of pressure in a
medium.
• Hearing - perception of sound limited to certain
frequencies. Frequency range – 20 to 20 000 Hz
• Pressure [Pa] - local pressure deviation from the average
atmospheric pressure caused by soundwaves.
The force (N) of sound on a surface area (A).
• Frequency [Hz] - defines the number of oscillations per
Wrap up
one second.
• Loudness - ordering sound on a scale extending from
quiet to loud (Subjective measure).
• Tone Pitch - perceptual property that allows the ordering
of sounds on a frequency related scale (Subjective
measure).
• Timbre - quality of musical sounds, that distinguishes
different types of sound products (Both – subjective and
objective).
• Auscultation – done with a stethoscope.
• Percussion – tapping on a surface to determine the
underlaying structure.
• Clinical audiometry – identifying hearing thresholds.
• Phonocardiography – diagnosing heart valves.
19
• Open Hearing test page in the browser:
https://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/heari
ng.html
• Decrease the volume evenly until you no
longer hear any sound. Take a
Tasks
measurement from both ears.
• Record the results in a table.
• Conclude.
and workflow
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1. Degrees of hearing loss (write the main
conclusion):
2. Compare the audiograms for your left and right

ear. Is there any difference?
Results and 3. Which frequencies did you hear better and

why?
Conclusions
4. Analyze the possible sources of error (e.g.,
noise, problems with wires (bad connection),
cannot hear all frequencies you are supposed to
hear, not so good headphones)
5. Give examples about different sounds in

nature, applications in medicine, or technology –
describe at least one example in details (approx.
5 sentences)!
6. What are the pros (+) and cons (-) for this
particular method? Justify your answer.
21
Backup slides
22
Audio in time
amplitūda
laiks
23
Audio spectrum
• What is on the axis?
• How many axis in each schematic?
• Which is spectrum schematic?
(What is spectrum?)
• What does 3rd image represent?
1. 2. 3.
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Audio spectrum analysis
False color brightness – sound level in decibels

(Brighter means louder).
Brightness – extra dimension.
X-axis – time.
Y-axis – frequency.
DEMO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHUa_G74JNQ
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Formulas for calculation
Power is product of volts and amps
P=U*I=U*U/R=U2/R [W]
• We have to leave only one changeable
(voltage) parameter, other must be
constant (Resistance).
Intensity is power transferred per unit area

E=P/A [W/m2]
Let`s substitute P
E=(U2/R)/A=U2/(AR) [W/m2]
• Intensity is proportional to voltage E~U2
When talking about proportionality, we
can reject constants (area and
resistance).
26

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Audiometry

The aim: «To measure the hearing threshold at different frequencies.»

20Hz to 20kHz (Human Audio Spectrum)

Sound is composed of frequencies withing

Threshold of pain: Nominal dynamic range of

I0 = 10-12 W/m2 sound level at the beginning of

The fluid gives oxygen to the inner ear

3 dB doubles sound intensity.

Let’s say a reasonable range is from 50 dB (background noise

Going from 50 dB to 53 dB is a doubling in level. 53 dB to 56 dB

If the noise level increases by 60 dB, the signal is 1,000,000

Image credit: David Plunkert

Luisada, A. A., & Aravanis, C. (1957). Phonocardiography as a clinical method of examination.

2. Compare the audiograms for your left and right

Results and 3. Which frequencies did you hear better and

5. Give examples about different sounds in

False color brightness – sound level in decibels

Intensity is power transferred per unit area

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