MADSEN Alpha OAE+ Screener User Manual
32
5.4.3
TEOAE test results
Child Mode
When a test is completed, the Reward screen is displayed regardless of the test result. The outcome of the test is displayed on the Test result screen.
If Child Mode is not activated, the Test result screen is displayed after the test is completed.
Press OK (
) to return to the Test Menu.
Pass/Clear Response
If there is a Pass/Clear Response result a graph appears.
A Pass/Clear Response result indicates that the patient has normal outer hair cell function in the area corresponding to the test signal.
A Pass/Clear Response is determined by a statistical algorithm, based on weighted averaging, that ensures detection with proven high specificity and
sensitivity. No further interpretation of the Pass/Clear Response result is needed.
Refer/No Clear Response
If the result is a Refer/No Clear Response, the detailed result appear below the graph.
Refer/No Clear Response:
A Refer/No Clear Response is “good” when the Artifact and Stimulus levels do not exceed the critical limits (see below), indicating that test conditions
were good.
A Refer/No Clear Response is “bad” when the Artifact and Stimulus levels have been exceeded, indicating that test conditions were not optimal. In
this case the patient should be retested.
A Refer/No Clear Response result may occur for a number of reasons, the most important one being that the patient may have a sensorineural
hearing loss.
Always consider the factors below, however, when you interpret a Refer/No Clear Response result. It may be possible to improve the quality of the
test and so, on repeating the test a Pass/Clear Response may be obtained. It is always recommended that you repeat the test when a Refer/No Clear
Response result is obtained. Consider for instance the following when you interpret a Refer/No Clear Response result:
Malfunctions in the transmission of sound are important causes of emissions not being detected. To eliminate this possibility, make sure
that the probe tip and the ear canal are not blocked by cerumen or vernix. Clean the probe, change the eartip, and then repeat the test.
Check the probe fit indicator during the calibration and adjust the probe to ensure that the probe fit quality is high.
Repeat the test if the test conditions were not optimal (too much noise, too restless a patient, etc.). Use a sound cabin or a room where
the ambient noise is low.
Artifact and Stimulus values
If the Artifact value (artifact reject) is greater than 20%, this value may indicate a noisy test. Improve the test conditions and repeat the test.
If the Stimulus value (stimulus stability) is less than 80%, the probe may have shifted or may not be in a position to record the response. Reposition
the probe and repeat the test.
Inconclusive test
If it is not possible to achieve a Pass result and:
1. the patient has a large ear canal volume and the test was started with the
Manual Start (
)
after a failed calibration,
or
2. the test environment is too noisy, then the test result may be Inconclusive.
