audiometer /ô′dē·om″ətər/ [L, audire + Gk, metron, measure] , an electronic device for testing hearing. Earphones are placed over the ears (air-conduction testing), or a bone vibrator is placed on the mastoid (bone conduction testing). Hearing is tested by using tones from very low to very high frequencies at various decibels of intensity. The patient signals when a tone is heard, and the lowest level at which the patient hears is noted on an audiogram.
