Intrasubject reliability of high-frequency (9-14 kHz) thresholds: tested separately vs. following conventional-frequency testing.
Retrospective analysis of hearing-threshold data from a multisite ototoxicity monitoring study identified an individualized range of predominantly high frequencies (> 8 kHz) that appeared to be highly sensitive to early threshold changes caused by ototoxicity. This suggested the potential for a limited-frequency monitoring protocol that could be conducted rapidly without compromising sensitivity to ototoxicity. Such testing would require high-frequency thresholds to be obtained independently, that is, without prior testing at conventional frequencies (0.25-8 kHz). This study was conducted to determine the test-retest reliability of isolated threshold testing in a "target" frequency range of high frequencies (9, 10, 11.2, 12.5, and 14 kHz) that represented a shortened ototoxicity monitoring test. Twenty normal-hearing subjects were evaluated over five sessions. During each session, subjects were tested in each of two conditions: (1) conventional frequencies (0.25-8 kHz) tested first, followed by target frequencies; and (2) target frequencies tested alone (isolation condition). Depending on test frequency, reliability of high-frequency thresholds was either unchanged or improved in the isolation condition. Although these results cannot be generalized to ill hospitalized patients, who may also have pre-existing hearing loss, they lay the groundwork for development of a time-saving limited-frequency test to monitor for ototoxicity in these patients.
Fausti
S A
SA
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97207, USA.
Henry
J A
JA
Hayden
D
D
Phillips
D S
DS
Frey
R H
RH
D000328:Adult; D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents