Application of the Audioscan in the detection of carriers of genetic hearing loss.

The authors describe the establishment of normative stimulus parameters for the Audioscan, an automated sweep frequency audiometer, for its application in the detection of audiometric notches in carriers of recessive genetic hearing loss. A sweep rate of 30 s/octave over the frequency range 300 to 4000 Hz pulsing at 2.5 pulses/s at -5 dB with a step size of 5 dB were ultimately adopted. The criterion for notches was 15 dB or greater within the frequency range 500-3000 Hz. Adopting this criterion, 14.2% of control subjects had notches. Among parents of children with non-syndromal recessive hearing loss 55% were found to have notches. Notches were found more frequently among mothers and sisters than among fathers and brothers of the patients.