title: Test-retest reliability of tone-burst-evoked otoacoustic emissions.
abstract: In this study, the short- and long-term test-retest reliabilities of tone-burst-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TBOAEs) with 12 different tone-burst stimuli (4 frequencies [1, 1.5, 2 and 3 kHz] at 3 stimulus levels [approximately 76, approximately 67 and approximately 55 dB pcSPL]) were examined in 30 normal hearing subjects. Click-evoked and spontaneous OAEs were recorded in parallel with TBOAEs to facilitate cross-comparisons and the generalization of results. Findings for click-evoked and spontaneous OAEs were comparable with most literature data. High reliability for TBOAEs was established for high and mid stimulus levels at all frequencies tested with reference to test-retest prevalence rate, test retest occurrence, intra-subject test retest difference and correlation coefficient. Derived half-octave band analysis at the frequency corresponding to the stimulus was found to reflect real TBOAE performance more reliably than broadband analysis. No significant difference between short- and long-term reliabilities was noted from all results. Similar test-retest reliabilities for high-level TBOAEs and click-evoked OAEs was obtained, suggesting that TBOAEs could potentially contribute to clinical assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001298:Audiology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors