Optimum test conditions and variability of otoacoustic emission testing in individuals with normal hearing

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr840.pdf

RR840

Optimum test conditions and variability of otoacoustic emission testing in individuals with normal hearing


Kerry Poole

This study investigates issues important for the potential usefulness and practical application of OAE testing within an occupational health surveillance programme. Before this technique can be used within health surveillance, it is important to understand how reliable the measurements are and the level of change that could be detected over time within individuals. As any test of hearing function is potentially susceptible to background noise levels, it was also important to establish whether a soundproof room or audio booth would be required if this were to be used within health surveillance. We also wished to compare the reliability of OAE to that of standard puretone audiometry.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

KEY MESSAGES
Otoacoustic emission testing (OAE) has good reliability and repeatability in individuals with normal hearing. It should be borne in mind that this study did not investigate the impact of noise exposure or hearing difficulties on OAE, both of which would be important factors in occupational health surveillance.
The smallest difference that can be detected using the technique appears to be small enough to be able to pickup changes that may be expected with noise-induced hearing loss over time, but this would need to be verified by future research work.
The room in which the measurements are performed (quiet room versus audio booth) has little influence on the reliability of the technique. Thus, a soundproof room may not be necessary to obtain good quality information.