RR840 - Optimum test conditions and variability of otoacoustic emission testing in individuals with normal hearing
This study investigates issues important for the potential usefulness and practical application of OAE testing within an occupational health surveillance programme. Before this technique can be used within health surveillance, it is important to understand how reliable the measurements are and the level of change that could be detected over time within individuals. As any test of hearing function is potentially susceptible to background noise levels, it was also important to establish whether a soundproof room or audio booth would be required if this were to be used within health surveillance. We also wished to compare the reliability of OAE to that of standard puretone audiometry.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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