How accurate are bedside hearing tests?

The accuracy of five bedside hearing tests was evaluated in 107 consecutive adults, using pure-tone audiometry as the standard reference. Bedside tests had poor sensitivity (< or =0.60), relatively good specificity (> or =0.74), and variable positive predictive value (0.24 to 1.0) for detecting hearing loss. Sensitivity improved when bedside tests were combined with case history. The diagnostic utility of bedside tests routinely administered by neurologists to detect hearing loss in adults requires further study.