ISO 8253-1-2010 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 8253-1-2010 — ISO 8253-1:2010: "Acoustics — Audiometric test methods — Part 1: Pure‑tone air and bone conduction audiometry". This international standard specifies procedures, requirements and test conditions for determining pure‑tone air‑conduction and bone‑conduction hearing thresholds, and sets out methods used for screening audiometry (pure‑tone air conduction).

Abstract

ISO 8253‑1:2010 prescribes standard procedures for pure‑tone air and bone conduction threshold audiometry. It covers fixed‑ and sweep‑frequency audiometry, bone conduction measurements, screening procedures (air conduction), audiogram plotting, permissible ambient noise for test rooms, and requirements for calibration and maintenance of audiometric equipment. The document does not specify speech audiometry, electrophysiological audiometry, or procedures using loudspeakers as the primary transducer.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed current following ISO review).
• Publication date: 2010 (Edition 2; published October–November 2010).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.140 — Noise with respect to human beings (acoustics / audiometry).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2010).
• Number of pages: 29 (ISO published document page count).

Key bibliographic and lifecycle data (status, edition, page count and review/confirmation history) are taken from the ISO catalogue entry for ISO 8253‑1:2010.

Scope

This part of ISO 8253 specifies procedures and requirements for pure‑tone air conduction and bone conduction threshold audiometry. For screening purposes it describes only pure‑tone air conduction methods. It excludes procedures at levels above the subjects’ hearing thresholds, and does not cover speech audiometry, electrophysiological audiometry or loudspeaker‑based methods (sound‑field speech tests are covered in other parts of the 8253 series).

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and terms specific to pure‑tone audiometry and transducers (earphones, insert earphones, bone vibrators).
• Subject preparation, positioning of transducers and test instructions.
• Procedures for fixed‑frequency and sweep‑frequency pure‑tone air conduction audiometry.
• Bone conduction audiometry procedures and considerations for masking.
• Screening audiometry protocols (air conduction) and pass/fail criteria.
• Requirements for permissible ambient noise levels in test environments.
• Maintenance, calibration and verification requirements for audiometric equipment; guidance on measurement uncertainty (informative annex).

The above topics follow the structure and clauses given in the ISO 8253‑1:2010 standard text.

Typical use and users

Used by audiologists, occupational health professionals, clinical engineers, hearing conservation program managers, manufacturers of audiometric equipment, test lab personnel and standards bodies. Typical applications include diagnostic pure‑tone threshold assessment, occupational hearing screening programs, equipment calibration/verification and setting up compliant audiometric test rooms.

Related standards

ISO 8253‑1 is part of the ISO 8253 series on audiometric test methods. Relevant related standards include ISO 8253‑2 (sound‑field audiometry with pure‑tone and narrow‑band test signals) and ISO 8253‑3 (speech audiometry — latest edition published 2022). Reference standards for calibration and reference levels in audiometry are given in the ISO 389 series (reference zeros for calibration of audiometric equipment). In practice ISO 8253 series is frequently used alongside equipment specifications and test signal standards such as IEC 60645 (audiometric equipment) and regional standards such as ANSI/ASA S3.6 (Specification for Audiometers).

Keywords

audiometry, pure‑tone audiometry, bone conduction, air conduction, audiometric screening, audiometer calibration, permissible ambient noise, ISO 8253, ISO 389, IEC 60645, ANSI S3.6

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 8253‑1:2010 is an international standard that specifies methods and requirements for pure‑tone air and bone conduction threshold audiometry (procedures, equipment checks, permissible ambient noise and related guidance).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers fixed‑frequency and sweep‑frequency pure‑tone air conduction testing, bone conduction testing, screening procedures for air conduction, audiogram presentation, ambient noise limits for test rooms, and calibration/maintenance requirements; it does not cover speech audiometry, electrophysiological methods or loudspeaker‑based speech tests.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Audiologists, occupational health services, clinical engineers, hearing conservation officers, test‑room designers and equipment manufacturers use this standard to ensure consistent, reproducible pure‑tone threshold testing and to align equipment and procedures with international practice.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 8253‑1:2010 (Edition 2) is published and, according to ISO’s lifecycle records, was reviewed and confirmed (remains current) in ISO’s periodic reviews (confirmation recorded in 2021). Users should check ISO or their national body for any later amendments/corrigenda before purchase or implementation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO 8253 series. Other parts cover sound‑field audiometry (Part 2) and speech audiometry (Part 3, latest edition 2022), and related reference‑zero documents are published as ISO 389 parts. Practitioners typically implement ISO 8253‑1 together with ISO 8253‑2/3 and ISO 389 series and with equipment standards (IEC/EN, ANSI/ASA) for full audiometric program compliance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Pure‑tone audiometry, air conduction, bone conduction, audiometric screening, calibration, permissible ambient noise, audiometer, ISO 8253, reference threshold (ISO 389).