The PA5 is a lightweight free field audiometer designed for
trained healthcare professionals involved in screening young
children for hearing loss. It features one-handed operation, silent
buttons and a variety of light and sound stimuli. This easy-to-use
device can also be used in a workplace setting by
suitable-qualified occupational therapy teams for employee health
screening.
Hearing screening is an essential
service in ensuring early diagnosis and improved management of
hearing loss - from the child at school who cannot hear their
teacher to the safety of a factory employee.
In essence, the PA5 is a sophisticated electronic version of the
high frequency rattle historically used for distraction testing. It
can be used to screen a person of any age but it is most suitable
for young children or those who can't verbalise their response (eg.
a person with additional needs). The PA5 allows your tests to be
objective, repeatable and reportable.
Instructions: The single-handed controls on the PA5 give full
control over frequency and intensity and make the test process
quick, flexible and comfortable. It should be held between approx.
50cm away from the child, at a 90 degree angle to the ears. The
test should be conducted in a quiet environment with no background
noise and it is important to condition the child to respond to the
sound rather than a movement or pause in distraction. Ideally you
are looking for the child to turn their head towards the sound.
Output and specificity of this type of device are based on the
test characteristics defined by the user and may vary depending on
environmental and operating conditions. The screening for hearing
loss using this kind of audiometer depends on the interaction with
the patient. However, for children not responding well, various
test possibilities allow the tester of having at least some
evaluative result. Thus, a “normal hearing” result should not allow
for ignoring other contra indications in this case. A full
audiologic evaluation should be administered if concerns about
hearing sensitivity persist.
PA5 Features:
- One-handed operation
- Flashing Light Stimulation
- Silent presentation switch
- White noise stimulus for improved sensitivity
- Warble Tone
- Narrow band noise
- TDH39 Audiometric Headphone socket (headphones purchased
separately)
- Robust, Lightweight
- Requires 3 x standard AA Batteries
- Automatic power save - it will turn off after a period of
inactivity and reactivate when a stimulation switch is
touched.
- Automatic Battery Indication
The PA5 can be used for the following tests:
- Conditioned Orientation Response (COR)
- Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
- Auropalpebral Reflex (APR)
The PA5 is very easy to use. The two stimuli, light and sound,
are controlled silent buttons. Both stimuli can be presented
simultaneously by letting one finger touch both buttons.This gives
full freedom in operating COR, VRA and APR tests. The PA5 includes
white noise as well as warble and narrow band stimuli. White noise
has been shown to be especially useful for evoking responses in
very young babies..
Conditioned Orientation Response: Typically, two PA5s are used
for the COR test, one in each hand. This allows the tester to use
either unit to evoke head turn and provide visual reinforcement.
The single-handed controls on the PA5 give full control over
frequency and intensity and make the test process quick, flexible
and comfortable.
With children old enough to cooperate, it is possible to connect
a single TDH39 audiometric headphone to the PA5 and obtain
audiometric thresholds. With a headphone attached, the PA5
automatically adjusts to Pure Tone stimulation and the correct
calibration for the TDH39 and Pure Tone Audiometry will be
applied.
As the PA5 is a calibrated device and to ensure that the
calibration is as up-to-date as possible, it will be shipped
direct from Interacoustics.
Annual calibration is
not required unless the results are used for diognostic
decision-making.
Supplied with: PA5 Paediatric free field audiometer, 3 x AA
batteries, PA5 carry case, instructions, service manual.
Optional spare parts available separately: TDH headphones,
TDH39S headphones
Weight (including batteries): 353g
Please note, proper use of this item for
effective hearing screening requires the appropriate training. It
is not suitable for domestic use.
The approximate battery lifetime using Alkaline battery
type:
- With the instrument switched off:12 months
- With 80 dB tone switched on: 10 hours
- With 80 dB tone and light switched on: 4 hours
Battery Level indication: When the batteries need to be
replaced, the LED indication for the present used stimulus will
gradually reduce in light intensity and finally switch
off.
