REATPro Real Ear Attenuation at Threshold Software

Overview

REATPro is our third generation software application for use by hearing protector professionals. As part of a complete REAT system, REATPro conducts Real Ear Attenuation at Threshold (REAT) measurements in accordance with the standard test methods* on earplugs, earmuffs and other hearing protection devices and systems. Plus, when used in conjunction with our Trident software, REATPro also supports many other measurements commonly conducted in hearing protector test laboratories, including MIRE and fixture based testing of hearing protectors. REATPro operates on National Instruments PXIe-4463, PXIe-4464 and PXI-6220 series hardware. REATPro is an automatic Bekesey audiometer program designed to provide stimulus and track responses for sound field hearing threshold determination for both occluded and unoccluded conditions. REATPro also provides calibrated signal generation for MIRE and fixture based tests.

 

Features:

  • Tracks both unoccluded and occluded hearing thresholds
  • Provides both thresholds and trace history
  • Provides tools for sound field calibration
  • Automated attenuator control and gain adjustment
  • Data export into MSExcel for post-process analysis and reporting

 

REATPro is the third generation of the REATMaster software originally developed in 2007 by Nelson Acoustics Software for the NASA Glenn Research Center and in conjunction with technical input from NIOSH. In 2010 the REATPlus second generation application of hearing protector evaluation was released which added additional features.  In 2014 REATPro was released and has been adopted by several large hearing protector manufacturers and government hearing protector laboratories.  REATPro has been enhanced with additional features and is now supported by VIacoustics for laboratories with an interest in hearing protector attenuation measurement.

 

*Standardized test methods:

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 40, Part 211, Subpart B – Hearing Protective Devices

ISO 4869-1:2018 Acoustics — Hearing protectors — Part 1: Subjective method for the measurement of sound attenuation

ISO 4869-3:2007 Acoustics — Hearing protectors — Part 3: Measurement of insertion loss of ear-muff type protectors using an acoustic test fixture

ISO/TS 4869-5:2006 Acoustics — Hearing protectors — Part 5: Method for estimation of noise reduction using fitting by inexperienced test subjects

ANSI S12.6 – Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of Hearing Protector

ANSI/ASA S12.42 American National Standard Methods for the Measurement of Insertion Loss of Hearing Protection Devices in Continuous or Impulsive Noise Using Microphone-in-Real-Ear or Acoustic Test Fixture Procedures

ANSI S3.19 – Method for Measurement of Real-Ear Protection of Hearing Protectors and Physical Attenuation Ear Muffs

Australian/New Zealand Standard 1270:2002, Acoustics – Hearing Protectors

Features

Allows comparison of subject threshold to qualifying average. Comparison of unoccluded thresholds within a session. Indicates compliance with ANSI S12.6 requirements.

Creates test documentation and retrieves prior thresholds from subject for comparison with current thresholds as required by ANSI S12.6.

  • Define test type: qualifying subject, training as subject, conducting protector test.
  • Subjects are tracked by subject ID for HIPA compliance.
  • Document what protector is being tested.
  • Load expected attenuation to speed up occluded threshold seeking.

REATPro provides seamless data export to MSExcel based template files that users can customize to meet their own data analysis and reporting needs. Both Unoccluded and Occluded thresholds, as well as the standard deviations of the trace reversal mid points used to derive the threshold are exported. A file header section provides documentation on all test setup parameters. Optionally, users may also export the sound pressure level vs time trace history to MSExcel for detailed analysis of threshold determination time and reversal history.

The Manual / Calibration tab can be used to present and calibrate any stimulus at any level to any or all outputs, continuously or pulsed. This can be useful for subject training, checking that the sound system is functioning and troubleshooting problems.

REATPro provides flexible configuration options to support a variety of data acquisition systems and audiometric testing protocols.

The Output Configuration tab allows you to assign output channels to each channel of the REAT sound system and configure key system settings. Equalization is available for each channel, as well as system wide, in order to generate a uniform sound field and achieve maximum repeatability. REATPro supports relay controlled L-pad attenuators for an extremely low noise floor.

 

 

 

 

In the Response Switch tab the switch device input is selected. REATPro supports mechanical or optical switches, and can detect if the switch is present and functioning before start of test to prevent runaway noise. There is also an option for the subject to activate fitting noise with the response switch.

 

 

 

 

The REATPro Stimulus Sequence setup tab allows you to configure the frequencies to be presented and the order in which they will be presented.  Preset frequency lists and presentation orders that meet industry standards are provided for quick configuration of the stimulus sequence. Or use customized stimulus from WAV files and utilize the extended frequency range  (63Hz – 16kHz) to help further your research.

 

 

 

The REATPro Timing and Threshold configuration screen provides complete user control over the audiometric threshold determination parameters associated with the test.  Threshold seeking rates and reversal count settings can be controlled here in order to either reduce time to threshold or increase the accuracy of the thresholds.

Use of prior subject threshold and expected protector attenuation also reduces the time it takes to reach both unoccluded and occluded hearing thresholds

 

 

The HL/SPL tab gives the option to report thresholds as hearing level or sound pressure level and makes the conversion as per ANSI S3.6-2010.

 

 

 

 

 

The Alarms and Sounds setup screen allows remote operator monitoring of test. The test operator can also configure custom alert sounds for system events and custom noises for fitting and insertion loss measurements, all from user defined WAV files.

Contact us about the Audio Filter Toolkit to generate custom WAV files equalized for your chamber.

 

 

 

The File Locations tab is used to configure how data is saved to a local or network drive. Data can be sorted by subject threshold history, protector testing history, or by study files for specific research or noise reduction ratings.

 

 

 

 

REATPro configuration settings can be saved and reloaded into REATPro when the application is first started.  This allows the test facility technical manager to optimize the system configuration settings for the unique needs of the laboratory, and then the test technician can simply be taught to retrieve this settings file when REATPro is started.  Configuration files can be password locked to prevent changes by system users.

  • Runs in automated manor from first to last frequency.
  • Runs both unoccluded and occluded modes.
  • Unoccluded mode has max level protections to ensure subject safety.
  • Provides level tracking and current threshold info with comparison to prior threshold.

Pricing

The starting price for a full REAT system is $30,000.

Request a Demo

Please contact VIacoustics for more information and an online demonstration of this product.

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