High-frequency Bekesy audiometry: III. Reliability and validity revisited

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Hearing Science
• Psychoacoustics

Background:

• Accurate assessment of high-frequency hearing sensitivity is crucial for early detection of hearing loss.
• Existing audiometric methods may have limitations in precisely measuring hearing thresholds above 8 kHz.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of a modified Grason-Stadler E-800 audiometer for measuring high-frequency hearing thresholds.
• To determine if this specific audiometer can be confidently used for high-frequency auditory assessments in normal-hearing young adults.

Main Methods:

• Thirty normal-hearing young adults underwent monaural audiometry using a modified Grason-Stadler E-800 audiometer with pulsed pure tones from 7 to 19 kHz.
• Audiograms were generated using Bekesy tracking, with conditions involving earphone repositioning and no repositioning.
• A subset of participants (N=16) returned for retesting after one month using both the modified E-800 and a conventional Method of Limits audiometer.

Main Results:

• Maximum group mean retest hearing threshold level (HTL) differences were approximately 5 dB.
• Statistical analysis confirmed equivalence of HTLs within and across testing sessions.
• High reliability and validity coefficients, significantly different from zero, were observed.

Conclusions:

• The modified Grason-Stadler E-800 audiometer demonstrates high reliability and validity for assessing high-frequency hearing sensitivity.
• This instrument can be used with confidence to measure high-frequency hearing thresholds in normal-hearing young adults.
• The findings support the use of this modified audiometer for clinical and research applications involving high-frequency hearing assessment.