Extended High-Frequency Audiometry Using the Wireless Automated Hearing Test System Compared to Manual Audiometry in...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Hearing Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Access to hearing loss monitoring, particularly for extended high frequencies (EHF), is crucial for individuals at risk of ototoxicity.
• Wireless automated Békésy-like audiometry (ABA) offers a potential solution for accessible hearing assessments outside traditional sound booths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare hearing thresholds obtained via manual audiometry and wireless automated Békésy-like audiometry (WAHTS) inside and outside a sound booth.
• To evaluate the accuracy of WAHTS ABA compared to manual audiometry across conventional and EHF ranges in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 28 typically developing children and adolescents (ages 10-18).
• Audiometric thresholds were measured from 0.25 to 16 kHz using manual audiometry and WAHTS ABA, both inside and outside a sound booth.

Main Results:

• WAHTS ABA yielded approximately 5 dB better thresholds than manual audiometry in conventional frequencies (0.25-8 kHz).
• In EHF (10-16 kHz), WAHTS ABA showed even greater improvement, with thresholds about 14 dB better than manual audiometry.
• A high degree of agreement was observed between ABA thresholds measured inside and outside the sound booth (86% conventional, 80% EHF within ±10 dB).

Conclusions:

• WAHTS ABA provides superior hearing thresholds compared to manual audiometry in children and adolescents, consistent with adult studies.
• The improved EHF thresholds with WAHTS ABA may relate to transducer calibration differences.
• Further research is necessary to establish age-appropriate normative data for WAHTS ABA EHF thresholds in pediatric populations for clinical use in monitoring programs.