RR840 - Optimum test conditions and variability of otoacoustic emission testing in individuals with normal hearing

This study investigates issues important for the potential usefulness and practical application of OAE testing within an occupational health surveillance programme. Before this technique can be used within health surveillance, it is important to understand how reliable the measurements are and the level of change that could be detected over time within individuals. As any test of hearing function is potentially susceptible to background noise levels, it was also important to establish whether a soundproof room or audio booth would be required if this were to be used within health surveillance. We also wished to compare the reliability of OAE to that of standard puretone audiometry. This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view the licence visit Some images and illustrations may not be owned by the Crown so cannot be reproduced without permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be sent to 1. Otoacoustic emission testing (OAE) has good reliability and repeatability in individuals with normal hearing. It should be borne in mind that this study did not investigate the impact of noise exposure or hearing difficulties on OAE, both of which would be important factors in occupational health surveillance. 2. The smallest difference that can be detected using the technique appears to be small enough to be able to pickup changes that may be expected with noise-induced hearing loss over time, but this would need to be verified by future research work. 3. The room in which the measurements are performed (quiet room versus audio booth) has little influence on the reliability of the technique. Thus, a soundproof room may not be necessary to obtain good quality information. The hearing loss that can occur in response to excessive exposure to noise in the workplace is permanent. Therefore, health surveillance has an important role in trying to prevent this. The standard technique for monitoring hearing as part of health surveillance, puretone audiometry, only detects changes once hearing loss has occurred. However, the measurement of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) from the ear is a simple, quick technique that may be useful in picking up early changes …