Reliability and validity of high-frequency (8-20 kHz) thresholds obtained on a computer-based audiometer as compared to a documented laboratory system.
A Macintosh computer-based audiometer (Virtual 320) was evaluated for reliability and validity of high-frequency (8-20 kHz) thresholds by comparison with a well documented laboratory high-frequency evaluation system (PARVA-HF). High-frequency earphones originally provided with the V320 for high-frequency testing required modification to improve reliability in calibration and in subject threshold testing. Twenty normal-hearing adults were evaluated in the 8-20 kHz frequency range on both testing systems. Results of intrasubject multiple-session testing were evaluated to determine the reliability of high-frequency thresholds obtained. The V320 produced reliable results comparable to the PARVA-HF. Validity of high-frequency thresholds was inferred by comparing V320 responses to those obtained with the PARVA-HF. Comparable findings between systems imply validity of thresholds obtained with the V320. Conventional frequency (0.25-8 kHz) threshold evaluation with the V320 and a Grason-Stadler 1701 audiometer also yielded comparable results.
Fausti
S A
SA
Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC), OR 97207.
Frey
R H
RH
Henry
J A
JA
Knutsen
J L
JL
Olson
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002138:Calibration; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results