The MADSEN Astera –
what you need in clinical audiometry!

Setting the direction

As the world’s leading manufacturer of audiologic equipment, it has long been expected that Otometrics would come out with a new clinical audiometer that could set the direction for the industry.

Developed in the US and Denmark

Many resources have gone in to being able to supply hospitals, ENT clinics and private practices with the most advanced clinical audiometer. The development of the MADSEN Astera has been a joint effort between strong research and development teams in the United States and in Denmark.
 

Customer Feedback

Based on extensive customer feedback, it was clear that a large proportion of audiologists still prefer to work with a stand-alone audiometer, whereas another large part prefers to use a PC audiometer and all the additional possibilities this gives.
 

Best of two worlds

The idea was to set a new standard in clinical audiometry by being able to combine the “best of two worlds” – stand-alone and PC-audiometry. Why not let the user decide for herself/himself what is preferred and most appropriate for the particular clinical test? This approach has been a guiding principle throughout the entire development process – i.e. to personalize as much as possible – so it is up to the user how to work. This is why so much effort has been put into solving not only the stand-alone versus PC-link issue, but also to build specific features that underline the individual flexibility of the Astera – depending on the user and the clinical situation.
 

General buyer hot buttons

PC based audiometers are becoming increasingly popular across the audiology community, and this has also influenced the general need for reporting, integration with EMR/NOAH etc. and a “paperless workflow” pushed to some extent by regulatory issues.

In short, the users that we have identified seem to have a number of elements that are important when it comes to clinical audiometry:

• Speed of operation
• Short learning curve
• Familiarity
• Flexibility
• Reporting facilities
• Instrument up-time
• Paperless workflow (and workflow optimization)
• Documentation (store and share data)
• Integration (to other instruments - and to NOAH, EMR, and patient management systems.)

Astera is truly my audiometer!

This is how we want you to feel and this is also the response we have received! By collecting the many user requests and turning them into the development of the Astera, we are proud to claim that we have reached a new level in clinical audiometry!
 

Acknowledging a busy workday

Like many other professionals, clinicians are most comfortable working with what they already know, and they appreciate their individual working habits. New and untried technology can seem untrustworthy and difficult to use, and merely the thought of having to spend a lot of time and effort getting used to a new piece of equipment, is enough to make up a busy clinician's mind, when considering investing in a new tool.

Based on this knowledge, it has been an essential criteria that the Astera could promise a short learning curve and easily be adapted to the individual needs of several users to make the transition to a new audiometer as smooth as possible.
 

 

So there’s no excuse for not adopting to the Astera – it will lead to a more enjoyable and profitable business with greater customer satisfaction.