Test methodology:
(1) The examiner stands behind the patient to remove the possibility of lip reading.
(2) The examiner then occludes the non-tested ear by gently occluding that ear's external auditory canal.
(3) The examiner asks the patient to repeat a set of 3 random numbers spoken by the examiner under different testing conditions.
4 sets of testing conditions are performed:
(1) conversational voice at 6 inches
(2) conversational voice at 2 feet
(3) whispering voice at 6 inches
(4) whispering voice at 2 feet
Passing level - either:
(1) The patient is able to repeat all 3 numbers correctly, OR
(2) The patient is able to successfully repeat more than 50% over three triplet sets of numbers.
Failure to pass at each level of voice testing was considered a positive evidence for some degree of hearing impairment.
• The inability to hear a whispered voice at 2 feet was successful in identifying those patients likely to benefit from a hearing aid.
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Validity in detection of significant hearing impairment
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sensitivity
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specificity
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positive predictive value
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|
failure to hear a whispered voice at 2 feet
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100%
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84%
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92%
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failure to hear a whispered voice at 6 inches
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73%
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100%
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100%
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|
failure to hear a conversational voice at 2 feet
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47%
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100%
|
100%
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