FULLY INTEGRATED AUDIOMETER

The CCA-200mini audiometer delivers extraordinary advantages over conventional microprocessor audiometers by harnessing the latest in intelligent automation. Built-in bidirectional communications allow the data to automatically flow both ways. This means there is no double entry of data (single entry increases efficiency) and previous records are automatically matched (for greater accuracy) as each test is progressing. Better yet, because subjects are chosen from a database list (if previously tested), the CCA-200mini audiometer provides ongoing access to the subject’s test history as the current test is progressing. This bidirectional communication saves time (choosing the best starting level speeds up the test) while it reduces errors (test results are automatically compared to historical data). The CCA-200mini audiometer is hands down the highest-performance audiometer available today! Read on for additional features that fine-tune performance, speed up tests, increase reliability, and create higher-quality results.

THE CCA-200mini AUDIOMETER DELIVERS
FAST, RELIABLE, QUALITY RESULTS

    As a van operator responsible for group mobile testing, you need equipment that is faster (because of the OptiLevel™ feature and fine-tuned performance); more reliable (because it’s easy to mount and requires less cabling); higher-quality (because of IntelliTesting™ automation); and more competitive (because of unique features you can customize). 

FASTER SPEED

The OptiLevel™ feature, fine-tuned performance, and Terminate Stimulus on Response (TSOR) feature add up to one thing: the fastest test speed available.

THE OPTILEVEL™ FEATURE STREAMLINES TESTING: Choosing the best starting level gives the CCA-200mini audiometer more accuracy—25% better results than the competition. Choosing the optimum starting level is easy. It’s always based on the subject’s hearing threshold. The CCA-200mini audiometer simply queries the computer database for the subject’s previous audiogram (click here for actual screen view) to select the initial stimulus levels. Starting just 10dB higher or lower than this level increases the number of presentations by over 30%! No other audiometer has the OptiLevel™ feature. Other audiometers treat all subjects the same and pay for it with slower test times.

FINE-TUNING EQUALS FAST PERFORMANCE: The CCA-200mini audiometer is designed for high-volume testing. This means going back to the basics and making sure that stimulus length and random wait time between stimulus presentations are fine-tuned to give you the fastest and most reliable audiogram possible.

THE TERMINATE STIMULUS ON RESPONSE (TSOR) FEATURE DELIVERS A TRULY CUSTOM TEST: Subjects spend one-third of the test listening to the stimulus. If the subject responds halfway through the stimulus, the remaining half-second is wasted time. With TSOR the stimulus stops the instant the subject presses the response switch. The time saved adds up significantly when you consider audiometer operation over an eight-hour period. TSOR easily reduces audiometric test time by 10%.

THREE-MINUTE TEST TIME
OR FASTER

Don’t be fooled by a competitor’s claims that a Hearing Conservation test takes only three minutes. This may be possible theoretically if you can control all human variables by having a subject with perfect hearing, behaving perfectly. But we all know that “real life” and “theory” differ dramatically—especially in a mobile audiometric testing situation!

Benson Medical Instruments has created a Hearing Conservation test that controls for equipment-based variables, because these are under your control. This means including unique features to speed up the process by removing all unnecessary lag times. At Benson Medical Instruments we don’t make empty promises by guaranteeing a three-minute test every time, but we do claim to remove all equipment-based variables in making this a possibility.

BETTER RELIABILITY

Simple setup and less cabling “simply” mean greater reliability.

FOR SETUP EASE the CCA-200mini audiometer— the size of a small stack of index cards—is compact enough to easily mount inside the test booth. This means your van will no longer look like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise with a huge cluster of audiometers covered with buttons, lights, beepers, and printers. With each audiometer in its respective booth, where it should be, your van will have one clean, uncluttered control console—adding up to a more efficient work space and shorter operator training time.

FOR INSTALLATION EASE the CCA-200mini audiometer  installs with a minimum of cabling. We know this is important because the majority of van service calls (four out of five to be exact) are for broken cabling and bad connections. Your best defense against time-consuming and expensive on-premise repairs is a simple installation that minimizes connections and cabling. The CCA-200mini audiometer is designed specifically for van operators with only one cable simultaneously carrying communication, power, and talk-over signals. Additional audiometers connect with a single cable in a configuration called a “daisy chain,” entirely and permanently eliminating patch panels and switch boxes.

In comparison, competitors’ audiometers are handled much differently. Their size demands that they be placed on shelves in the operators’ area of the van. A massive snake of cables is then used to deliver the tone from each audiometer to your subject’s ears, connect the components in the audiometer case, bring voice instructions to the sound booths, etc. This systematic design flaw can create up to 72 connections for eight audiometers—as opposed to only 24 connections for the CCA-200mini audiometer. And, as previously stated, most service calls are for broken cabling and bad connections.

HIGHER-QUALITY HEARING 
           CONSERVATION PROGRAM RESULTS

The IntelliTesting™ automation feature detects errors, automatically retests, or gives the operator the opportunity for a semi-automatic retest. This all adds up to greater consistency, less operator intervention, and less time for higher-quality test results.

THE INNOVATIVE INTELLITESTING™ FEATURE understands Hearing Conservation testing. The software is designed to:

• Scan during testing and automatically flag problem responses, or conduct a retest.
• Deliver test and error correction instructions through the headsets (in 12 standard languages).
• Alert the audiometric operator if there is an attempt to manipulate test results.
• Allow for a semi-automatic manual mode—the audiometer automatically uses the Modified Hughson-Westlake procedure for determining the threshold (versus the operator arbitrarily choosing what s/he considers to be the threshold).

The innovative IntelliTesting™ feature is based on extensive field-testing, in direct response to audiometric equipment issues that have been identified by you—the independent mobile testing operator.

MARK FOR RETEST: If you think a threshold is wrong, you can simply click on one or more thresholds and the “Mark for Retest” feature will automatically retest them. In comparison manual testing, done one threshold at a time, reduces your throughput and wastes time. Of course, if you want to manually test for those hard-to-determine thresholds this can be done as well.

KEEP BUSY MODE: When the tones stop, the subject knows the test is finished. A fast subject could easily finish a minute ahead of the slowest and get bored waiting. What’s to stop him or her from disrupting others? The CCA-200mini audiometer features a “Keep Busy” mode. At the end of the test, the audiometer continues to present tones and check responses, but doesn’t save new thresholds. Subjects in “Keep Busy” mode think the test is still going, so they’re less likely to disturb others. As a result, your audiometric equipment operator will have to do less retesting.

REPEAT INSTRUCTIONS: Not every subject understands how to take the test. Fixing this problem can take significant operator time. With the CCA-200mini audiometer there is complete control over individual booths, so your operator can easily correct any problem. A single talk-over microphone addresses any booth to clarify the test procedure, and “Mark for Retest” quickly clears up suspect thresholds.

PROHIBIT FEATURE: This important Hearing Conservation program management feature allows you to make sure your operator conducts the OSHA-mandated Daily Calibration. Of course, you can turn off the feature, but it’s a great way to make sure this important calibration always gets done. It’s up to you. An Annual Calibration Reminder is another integral part of the Prohibit Feature and is a good internal check for making sure your audiometers are within the manufacturer’s calibration specifications. All Hearing Conservation reports automatically capture these important checks, demonstrating your continued compliance with mandated OSHA standards.

GREATER COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE

Unique features that you can customize give you a greater competitive advantage.

DELIVER EVERY LANGUAGE—UNDER THE SUN! Now you can tell your clients that you can conduct Hearing Conservation tests in any language! Benson Medical Instruments offers a multilingual voice application featuring 12 standard languages, including: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong, Bosnian, Somali, French, Cambodian, Russian, Hindi, Tibetan, and German. (Click to hear sample instructions.) System design parameters make it possible to include 20 additional factory-installed languages (installed by Benson Medical Instruments in future models, as nationwide demographic trends dictate) and 32 additional user languages (easily installed by you).

You do not have to delete any of the 12 installed languages in order to add more! And adding more languages couldn’t be easier. Simply use any PC Windows Sound Recorder, and follow the straightforward instructions with a person fluent in the language. Upon file completion, easily transfer your new language instructions over to the CCA-200mini audiometer. Now, at your fingertips, you have another way to dramatically differentiate yourself from the competition.

EASILY ADDING ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES* is truly a competitive advantage because testing in someone’s native language dramatically increases consistency and reduces administration time. Now your operator doesn’t need to gesticulate and gesture, demonstrating to someone who doesn’t know English how to correct an error. The CCA-200mini audiometer is designed to automatically detect the nature of an error and to then send the language-specific verbal correction.

Given current nationwide immigration patterns, the need for new languages is increasing exponentially. So, in the next decade, it is likely that many new languages will be added to the standard roster.

ANY COMBINATION OF LANGUAGES CAN BE SIMULTANEOUSLY USED with the CCA-200mini audiometer. What this means is that you can have a subject in booth number one taking a Hearing Conservation test in Spanish, while booths two and three are in English, and booths four, five, and six are in Hmong—or any other combination that applies to the group you are currently testing. Better yet, the seamless integration of automatic data transfer, back and forth between the current testing environment and previous test information, means that your subject (if s/he has been tested by you in the past) will automatically receive the test instruction in the language that was previously used. This seamless integration of current and past data allows for a totally flexible testing environment.

*When you win we win! At Benson Medical Instruments we are committed to helping you differentiate yourself from the competition. We will be making available suggested copy guidelines for use in promoting this new “add-a-language” feature to your potential target market. If this is of interest, please contact David directly at 612/827-2222.

A “SOUNDER” SOLUTION
     TO YOUR AUDIOMETRIC EQUIPMENT NEEDS

As the owner of a mobile testing service, you need fast, reliable equipment that delivers higher-quality results and offers a greater competitive advantage. The CCA-200mini audiometer clearly delivers all of these benefits, giving you a “sounder” solution to your needs. But that’s not where the unique design parameters of this audiometer end. The CCA-200mini audiometer is designed to seamlessly integrate every function for the ultimate in operational ease.

OPERATIONAL EASE OF USE: It’s so simple. All your operator needs to do is push the Start button and the test begins. The seamless integration of the CCA-200mini audiometer does all the rest. It automatically instructs (in the correct language of the subject if s/he has been previously tested); chooses the best test starting level with the OptiLevel™ feature; and, scans for problem thresholds and automatically retests (where appropriate), or flags problems for operator semi-manual retest. While the Hearing Conservation test is taking place, your operator will be prompted to enter the subject’s information (e.g., Social Security number) or given the option to select it from your current database, if the subject has been tested before. This multitasking feature includes any combination of functions: add new information, edit data, etc.—all while the Hearing Conservation test is progressing!

BUILT-IN FLEXIBILITY: This incredible operational ease of use also has built-in flexibility, so your audiometric equipment operator is never locked into one course of action. (Totally integrated functionality does not mean lack of flexibility.) For example, there is a custom mix of group and individual control (up to 16 separate stations):

• Start all booths at once, several, or just one.
• Use talk-over in one or more booths.
• Manually test a subject while automatically testing other subjects.

UNLIMITED STORAGE…
SEAMLESS DATABASE INTEGRATION

The CCA-200mini audiometer stores unlimited subject data and audiograms, or seamlessly integrates this information into leading Hearing Conservation database software. Simple-to-use, built-in formats make it easy to export data to a third-party database, including (but not limited to): Hear/Trak™, OHM™, and Medgate.

How this bidirectional data can be used depends on the parameters of your van-based database system. Keep in mind that upgrading to the Plus Package will deliver the most comprehensive array of Hearing Conservation reports available today—13 standard reports—all available with fully incorporated demographic and exposure data. Additionally, the Plus Package supports multiple companies—a truly competitive advantage for the mobile testing practitioner.

INDUSTRY INNOVATOR WITH
“SEAMLESS SOUND SOLUTIONS”
FOR ALL YOUR
HEARING CONSERVATION NEEDS

Once considered the “new kid on the block,” Benson Medical Instruments has now become the established leader with the only seamlessly integrated Hearing Conservation testing system available today. Maybe this is the reason why the U.S. Military continues to choose Benson Medical Instruments as its sole developer and maintainer of occupational audiometry equipment purchased since 1997. Or maybe it’s because Benson Medical Instruments continues to be at the forefront of important audiometry design breakthroughs.

BENSON MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS WAS THE FIRST TO:

• Deliver an industrial audiometer that seamlessly integrates the ability to test, store all data, and output all reports from one easy-to-use piece of equipment.
• Create an IntelliTesting™ feature that automatically scans audiograms for test problems, and responds with appropriate solutions.
• Incorporate seven standard languages, and now we’re up to 12 (in a stand-alone instrument). The CCA-220 Plus audiometer can even accommodate 20 additional factory-installed languages, and has the ability to hold 32 more, easily installed by you!
• Develop a system for ambient noise level compliance that meets ANSI standards for sound level meters. Now you can continuously monitor ambient noise and produce automatic, ongoing compliance for effective “quiet room” testing.
• Support new OSHA recordable regulations and NHCA/CAOHC baseline revision guidelines.

Most importantly, Benson Medical Instruments was the first to produce a Hearing Conservation testing system that is so comprehensive and integrated it is “seamless” in its application. We’ve brought the art and science of Hearing Conservation testing into the 21st Century--where they belong.