White noise as a pretest sensitizer for neonatal hearing screening

To determine the effects of white noise as a pretest sensitizer in neonatal hearing screening, 450 neonates were tested under 18 test conditions which also permitted examination of infant state and criterion stimuli (warble tone versus narrow band noise) as variables. There were three pretest conditions: No pretest sensitizer; 90 dB pretest sensitizer, and 100 dB pretest sensitizer. Each pretest condition was followed by either a 90 or a 100 dB criterion stimulus. Analysis concerned an increase in the number and in the strength of the responses. Generally, there was no benefit associated with the use of white noise as a pretest sensitizer.