[The Audioscope III in family practice: an instrument suitable for the diagnosis of hearing loss in comparison with the regular audiometer].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of hearing tests performed with the Audioscope III and the classical audiometer.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two general practices in South Limburg, the Netherlands.


METHODS
The hearing of 115 patients aged 55-93 years who visited the practice for any reason was tested with the Audioscope III and subsequently with the screening audiometer, in two silent examination rooms. The tests were performed independently by two general practice trainees. Finally, the subjects were asked which instrument they preferred. An ear was diagnosed as 'hard or hearing' if the Fletcher index measured with the audiometer was > 30 dB or if, with the Audioscope III, 1, 2, 3 or 4 tones were not heard at 40 dB.


RESULTS
Depending on the number of tones not heard, the agreement between the measuring results ranged from 65 to 86%. If subjects during the examination with the Audioscope III failed to hear > or = 2 tones at 40 dB, the conclusion 'hardness of hearing', judged by the audiometric results, was correct in all cases. Conversely, the proportion of ears incorrectly diagnosed as 'not abnormal' at this limit was 39%. Hearing tests with the Audioscope III took little time (0.5-4 minutes) and were in general tolerated well.


CONCLUSIONS
The Audioscope III is a useful instrument in situations in which there is a high prevalence of auditory disorders, for instance in general practices with a relatively elderly patient population.
Brull
J N
JN
Universiteit Maastricht, vakgroep Huisartsgeneeskunde.
Buskens
J G
JG
Dinant
G J
GJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
De audioscope III in de huisartspraktijk: een geschikt instrument voor het vaststellen van slechthorendheid in vergelijking met de screeningsaudiometer.