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Phone positioning influence in high-frequency audiometry
Elizabeth Oliveira Crepaldi de Almeida1, Aparecida Yumi Nishimori
1Federal Council of Speech and Hearing Therapy, SP, Brazil. nelson_almeida@uol.com.br
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
|January 16, 2007
Summary
High frequency audiometry can detect early hearing changes. However, patient self-placement of earphones significantly reduces test reliability, impacting accurate auditory assessment.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Diagnostic Tools
Background:
- High-frequency tonal audiometry is a valuable method for the early detection of auditory alterations.
- Understanding factors influencing audiometric test reliability is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential differences in high-frequency audiometry results based on who positions the earphone.
- To assess the impact of self-placement versus evaluator-placement of earphones on hearing test outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A clinical and experimental study involving 55 undergraduate students with normal hearing.
- Each participant underwent two high-frequency audiometry tests (10, 12.5, 16 kHz) using an AC40 audiometer.
- Tests were conducted with the evaluator positioning the earphone and with the participant self-positioning.
Main Results:
- Statistical analysis using the kappa coefficient revealed an average kappa value of 0.50 for earphone positioning.
- The obtained kappa values were below the criterion of 0.70, indicating poor agreement between the two methods.
- This suggests significant variability introduced by the participant's earphone placement.
Conclusions:
- Patient self-placement of earphones poses a risk to the reliability of high-frequency audiometric assessments.
- The method of earphone positioning must be carefully considered to ensure the accuracy and dependability of audiometric results.
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