Fowler's Test - otometrics Madsen Midimate 602 Quick Manual

MIDIMATE 602 & 622 Diagnostic Audiometers
15. Turn the Frequency wheel to select the desired test frequency.
16. Toggle Softkey 2 to display 1-5dB and reduce the increment to 1 dB.
17. Press Tone Switch to start the test.
18. Press Softkey 5, Stop, to reset or continue the test.
During the test, the running total of Presentations is displayed on the screen.
When 20 presentations have been made at 5 second intervals, the test is completed
automatically. The patient's Score is shown both as a total and as a percentage. To
check whether the patient really responds to increments, pause the test by pressing
Softkey 5, and then after a few moments either resume by pressing Softkey 5 again,
or reset the test by pressing Softkey 1.
6.2

Fowler's test

Fowler's test (the Alternate Binaural Loudness Balance test) is practical when there is
a difference in hearing loss of more than 20 dB between the ears. With this test you
can measure recruitment in one ear by determining any change in the ear-to-ear dif-
ference when the test is repeated at different hearing levels. To perform the test, do
as follows:
1. Prepare for testing as in steps 1 to 4 of §6.1.
2. Select Fowler from the Select special Test menu by pressing Softkey 2.
3. Select the level for the test ear and present the tone to each of the patient's ears in
turn, twice for each ear. Adjust the level until the patient feels the same sensation
of loudness in both ears.
4. Select one ear as a fixed reference and the other as the variable. Use the Hearing
Level wheel for the left ear and the Masking Level wheel for the right ear to set
each of the initial stimulus tone levels to 10 dB above the actual threshold of the
corresponding ear.
5. Turn the Frequency wheel to select the desired test frequency.
6. Press the Tone Switch to start the test, which has a fixed duration of a couple of
seconds.
7. After the test, adjust the hearing level in the variable ear to suit the patient's re-
action to the test.
8. Repeat the test as many times as necessary until the patient feels the same sensa-
tion of loudness in both ears.
9. Record the final levels.
10. Repeat steps 3 to 8 at other reference levels and other frequencies as required.
11. Press Menu to exit the test.
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