Is computer‐assisted audiometry as reliable as manual audiometry in an NHS setting?

Abstract

Objectives. The Otogram™ is a computer‐assisted audiometer.1 It assesses air conduction and bone conduction thresholds and administers masking when appropriate1. There has been no published research in a peer‐reviewed journal, validating it's use in a British population.2 We propose to investigate the reliability of the Otogram™ in an NHS setting.Method. This is a prospective non‐randomised study of 48 patients referred to an NHS Otology clinic. Each patient had two pure tone audiograms (PTAs). The first 16 patients had two manual PTAs performed by audiologists. Hearing thresholds were ascertained by audiologists and by the Otogram™ for the second group of 16 patients. The third group of 16 patients had two PTAs, each performed by the Otogram.Results. Ninety‐four percent of air conduction thresholds and 91% of bone conduction thresholds measured by the Otogram™ fell within 10 dB of thresholds measured by an audiologist. There was a high level of agreement in air conduction thresholds (κ = 0.96, 95%CI 0.95–0.97) and bone conduction thresholds (κ = 0.92, 95%CI 0.90–0.95) between audiologist and Otogram™. This compares favourably with the inter‐rater agreement between our audiologists for air conduction (κ = 0.94, 95%CI 0.92–0.95) and bone conduction (κ = 0.86, 95%CI 0.81–0.91).Conclusions. There is evidence that the Otogram™ is a reliable automated audiometer in the clinical setting. The Otogram™ has the potential to reduce NHS patient waiting times and to help audiology departments to reach their 18‐week Department of Health target.References. 1 http://www.tympany.net2 D’Agostino M.A. & Lee J. (2004) Manual audiometry vs. Self‐Automated Otogram : a comparison of testing outcomes. Otolaryngol.Head Neck Surg. 131, 81–82