Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in ears with normal hearing sensitivity: test-retest variability.

4 women and 4 men with normal hearing sensitivity were tested for variability in distortion-product otoacoustic emissions, with two measurement sessions per day for 4 days spread over a 2-wk. period. Most test-retest variations were small, on the order of 2 dB. Extreme variations of 6 dB or greater occurred most often at the highest test frequency and should not be considered clinically positive unless such differences are found at lower frequencies also.