Pitfalls in the Detection of Hearing Loss via Otoacoustic Emissions

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are currently used as a valuable audiological test or hearing screening tool. There many commercially available OAE recording systems that both for clinical practice and research. However, there is little information in the literature comparing their performance detecting loss. The purpose of this prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study was to evaluate obtained from recent older versions Otometrics Accuscreen device comparison with Otodynamics ILO-292 system, which has been gold standard. Testing included otoscopic assessment, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, transiently evoked (TEOAE) recordings. about 77% agreement between two device. Agreement devices ILO approximately 70% old 80% new. newer version seems perform better than old, being more consistent reference system audiometry profiles tested subjects. In order set robust standards evaluation analysis, additional studies different needed.