title: Automated auditory response detection: Further improvement of the statistical test strategy by using progressive test steps of iteration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A common testing approach for automated ABR detection is to use a sequential test strategy. Repeated testing increases the error probability for a falsely detected response (Type I error rate). To compensate for this effect, the statistically critical test value must be increased with each test step. The aim of the study was to improve response detection by a reduction of the number of test steps using a progressively increasing test step of iteration, defined here as step width.
  
  
  METHODS
  A progressively increasing test step width was tested with and without the table-related testing (adjusting the critical test value to each test step) proposed by Stürzebecher & Cebulla (2013) . For this study the same data pool was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was performed on raw EEG data collected during routine clinical measurement of frequency-specific ASSR for hearing threshold assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction of the test step number combined with a progressive test step width led to a significantly improved response detection. In combination with table-related testing a slight but not significant improvement compared to table-related testing alone was revealed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed test strategy can improve the performance of objective hearing threshold assessment and of newborn hearing screening.
authors.affiliation: * Comprehensive Hearing Center (CHC), Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cebulla
authors.forename: Ekkehard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stürzebecher
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
keywords: ABR; automated auditory response detection; critical test value; error probability; repeated testing