Clinical impressions of acoustic reflex measures in an adult population

The implications of the use of sensitivity predictions from acoustic reflex (SPAR) measures are increasing through clinical application of the test. Jerger and associates have suggested the importance of SPAR in the examination of children. Our use of SPAR with a primarily adult population has supported other important applications of this procedure, including the the use of predictions in legal cases and in examining elderly or foreign-speaking patients who often respond poorly on subjective tests. Discussion and recommendations regarding such applications are based on a study of SPAR involving 681 ears.