Knob-operated audiometers to become obsolete.
April 1, 2013. Washington, D.C. Citing a need to standardize patient care, the Centers for Health Administration has released Document 42 CFR Chapter IV – CHA-DHSS, which mandates a National Audiogram Registry, to aid in the improvement of national hearing health services.
Beginning in January of 2018, all new audiograms must be entered in the database, through a computer-operated audiometer. The federal database will be used to track the incidence of hearing loss and provide substantiation for federal funds for hearing care research and services. In order to comply with the mandate, audiologists, physicians and other professionals utilizing knob-operated audiometers, must upgrade or replace their equipment with mouse operated, computer-based audiometers.
Dick Danielson, PhD, Manager for Audiology and Hearing Conservation, Johnson Space Center, where the program has been piloted since 2011 stated, "Many of the audiologists cried at the loss of their knobs, but after a year or so we eventually adjusted. Initially, I personally thought that this would be unproductive, if not plain cumbersome. But then I realized how such a design would allow us to clean audiometer surfaces more easily and reduce infectious diseases via contact transmission."
Other audiologists, however, are not as enthusiastic regarding the upcoming change. James Hall III, Ph.D. responded to the news, "I just spent a ton of money to have my E800 Bekesy audiometer tuned up. I love that big knob. Now how will I tell a Type III from a Type IV hearing loss?”
Jenny Weber, AuD, Professor and program coordinator for audiology and speech at the University of Northern Colorado states: "Although I support the idea of a federal registry, especially if it means more government resources for hearing services, I don’t understand why I still can’t use my favorite GSI 61 audiometer. I've been called a "knob twister" for the past 30 years by my speech pathology colleagues. What will they start calling me now?"
The National Hearing Aid Museum has announced the addition of a new wing, to house legacy audiology equipment. They will be accepting knob-operated audiometers in good condition, with calibration stickers, taped on SRT and WRS word lists, ASA-ISO correction factors, and other identifying information removed.
For more information on complying with the new mandate, please visit: Nomoreknobs2018.org
