Abstract
Rigorous methods of testing auditory function are facilitated by standards, which
help guide practitioners in various practices and help ensure reliable methods of
calibration of various instrumentation in (audiometers) and around (sound level meters)
these methods. Calibration is pervasive in standards, reflecting a lawful foundation.
The most fundamental basis derives from the laws of physics, which extend directly
to and are further elaborated in the specialty area of acoustics. Acoustical phenomena
and quantities have direct analogs in electrical phenomena and quantities, permitting
sound measurement, control, and production electronically, due to electroacoustic
transduction. Sound synthesis and analysis through mathematical tools permits both
fundamental insights into signals and sophisticated evaluations of systems' performance,
from the makeup of sounds to the nature of distortion. This article provides an overview
of these underlying principles, all of which are reflected in standards impacting
the practice of audiology, thus supporting the remaining articles in this issue.
Keywords
Acoustics - spectrum - transduction
