Test-retest variability in pure tone audiometry with insert earphones

• Grant number: 12/09995-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Gil
• Grantee: Lilian Aguiar de Mello
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In clinical audiology, the most common types of headphones are supra-aural and insert earphones. The insert earphones provide greater reliability in the examination, providing greater interaural attenuation, provide greater attenuation of envarionmental noise, reduce the occlusion effect of the external auditory canal bone conduction test and reduce the risk of the external auditory canal collapse. Some studies were performed with insert earphones evidencing that there is significant difference in the results obtained in the test and retest with this type of transducer. Purpose: the purpose of this study is to characterize the test-retest variability of insert earphone ER 3A in pure tone and speech audiometry. Method: for this survey one hundred (100) individuals of both sexes will be selected following inclusion criteria: age between 13 and 59 years; hearing thresholds between 250 Hz and 8000 Hz less than or equal to 25 dB HL, and type A tympanometric curves; with no evidence of syndromes, neurological and/or cognitive disorders, presenting no previous otological. All participants will undergo the following procedures: clinical history, meatoscopy, pure tone and speech audiometry under ER 3A insert earphones. After the first examination, the patient will be tested for immitance measures (tympanometry and acoustic reflexes). Finally, the procedures of pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry will be repeated in order to verify test-retest variability.(AU)