Audiometer Echoscan®

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Overview
ECHOSCAN is a portable, non-invasive device for prevention of hearing risks. Complementary to pure tone audiometry, it assesses peripheral auditory fatigue by recording otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in the ipsilateral ear while triggering the auditory reflex with contralateral sound stimulation. The device provides fast, objective on-site measurements for occupational health services and does not require active cooperation from the tested subject.

Main capabilities

• Assessment of auditory fatigue
• Identification of peripheral deafness
• Study of the pharmacological impact of chemicals on hearing
• Optional pure tone audiometry measurements

Principle and operation
ECHOSCAN records OAE in the ipsilateral ear while presenting contralateral sound stimulations to trigger the auditory reflex. Variations in OAE amplitude are used to determine the reflex trigger threshold, which is sensitive to peripheral auditory fatigue. Comparing trigger thresholds measured before and after daily exposure provides an evaluation of workplace-related auditory fatigue.

How to use

• Step 1 - Identity and setup: Connect the device to a computer (PC or Mac) via USB, start the Echosoft software, and create or select a patient. Install the subject in a quiet room; a soundproof booth is not required.
• Step 2 - Device setup: Place the OAE measurement probe in the ear to be tested (ipsilateral) and the sound transducer in the opposite (contralateral) ear.
• Step 3 - Determination of measurement parameters: Use Echosoft to run an automatic measurement (once per ear) to determine amplitude, frequency and level parameters optimized for the subject.
• Step 4 - Measurement of the auditory reflex: Choose pre- or post-exposure mode; the software emits sounds of increasing intensity in the contralateral ear while monitoring OAE amplitude in the ipsilateral ear to find the trigger threshold. Tests last a few minutes and can be paused or stopped.
• Step 5 - Result reading: Echosoft displays measurements for each intensity; a color marker indicates reflex triggered (green) or not (red). Results can be printed and archived on the computer.
• Step 6 - Results interpretation: Auditory fatigue is computed as post-expo threshold minus pre-expo threshold and automatically classified in three classes: Fatigue proved (Red); Auditory fatigue possible (Orange); Absence of fatigue (Green).

Downloads
Brochure (last version: February 2020) and an English user guide (last version: 1.1.1a) are provided for the device (documentation available from the manufacturer).

Technical specifications

• Size: 90 x 110 x 36 mm
• Weight: 239 g
• Graphics display: user interface, input signals, frequency signals, list of recordings, patient management
• Resolution (screen): 320 x 240 @ 65 000 colors
• Screen: Color resistive touch, usable with finger, gloves or stylus
• Energy / comfort: selection of backlighting level; display rotation
• Data storage: internal memory for a large number of measurements (> 2000)
• Data transfer: copy of data via ECHOSOFT software by USB
• Battery capacity: 3-4 hours of measurements
• Status: battery level displayed on screen
• Charging: via Mini-USB from a computer or with supplied mains adapter
• Reflex test - Otoacoustic emissions acoustic stimulation: from 1 kHz to 7 kHz
• Reflex test - Digital resolution: 16 bits @ 32 kHz
• Reflex test - OAE sound intensity: 30 to 70 dB SPL
• Contralateral masking stimulation range: from 125 Hz to 8 kHz
• Contralateral masking sound intensity: 20 to 100 dB HL
• Audiometry type: air conduction and bone conduction
• Audiometry headset: air conduction headset model DD65; bone conduction model B71
• Audiometry intensities: air conduction -10 to 110 dB; bone conduction -10 to 70 dB
• Audiometry frequencies: air conduction 125 to 8 000 Hz; bone conduction 250 to 8 000 Hz
• Audiometry contralateral masking: filtered white noise
• Testing modes: manual or automatic