Test-retest reliability of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in children with normal hearing: a preliminary study.

The test-retest reliability of DPOAEs was investigated in 24 children (43 ears) with normal hearing at five F2 frequencies (2530, 3561, 5014, 7029, and 10,028 Hz). Two DPOAE recordings were performed on the same subjects in the same location using the same equipment. The second recordings were made 13 to 15 days after the first recording. The DPOAE level recorded in the subjects ranged between -13.10 and 20.20 dB for all the five frequencies. The variation in DPOAE level was greater at 10,028 Hz than at other frequencies. The mean difference between the test and retest recordings was 0.52+/-2.87, -1.57+/-4.62, 0.01+/-3.38, -0.55+/-2.85, and -0.56+/-5.57 dB at 2530, 3561, 5014, 7029, and 10,028 Hz, respectively. The intra-correlation coefficients for DPOAE level at each of the five (F2) frequencies were 0.85, 0.68, 0.62, 0.89, and 0.64 respectively. Calculations of mean +2SD showed that retest recordings greater than 6.26, 7.67, 6.81, 5.15, and 10.58 dB SPL at 2530, 3561, 5014, 7029, and 10,028 Hz respectively could possibly be interpreted as a significant change in status of the ear.