Abstract
A COMMITTEE of the Section of Otology of the Royal Society of Medicine which was appointed in 1929 to consider tests of hearing has now issued its report (Longmans, Green and Co., Ltd., London. 2s. 6d.). Tests of hearing by tuning forks, which are widely used, were first considered. It was found, however, that there is no uniformity in the kinds or construction of forks employed by otologists. The Committee obtained the advice of Sir William Bragg and a list of requirements was formulated which was laid before Drs. Kaye, Dye, and Davis of the National Physical Laboratory, who undertook to draw up specifications for the manufacture of standard forks, and Messrs. J. and W. Ragg of Sheffield have completed a set which will shortly be available. The chief features of the standard fork are (1) the place where it should be struck is marked, (2) overtones should be inaudible within ten seconds of the fork being struck, (3) the pitch audible through air and bone to be the same, and (4) the rate of decay shall be such that the half intensity period of the vibrating fork in air shall be between three and ten seconds. Recommendations on the use of forks are given, the classical qualitative tests of hearing are surveyed and their clinical significance stated, and quantitative tests are discussed. Several memoranda on various aspects of the subject are contained in an appendix. The report is one of considerable value and interest.
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Tests of Hearing. Nature 131, 163–164 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131163d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131163d0