CHAPTER THIRTY
Response detection
264
30
Response detection
OAE response detection is based on the Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) at
each test frequency (for DPOAE tests) or across a specific frequency range
(for TEOAE tests). Dependent upon the statistical nature of the noise,
even with the probe in a cavity, there is a finite probability that data at the
measurement frequency appears above the noise and will be considered
as a ‘signal’ (i.e. a positive SNR). For both test types the larger the SNR
the greater the confidence that the signal detected is not a noise artefact.
The number of required frequencies for a screening pass influences the
SNR required for a given level of confidence. Once the level of confidence
and number of frequencies is decided the necessary SNR can be
computed.
By running many repeat cavity tests the occurrence rates of different SNR
levels in these tests were used to generate the confidence levels shown
in the tables reported below. These confidence levels can then be used to
determine positive predictive value and the negative predictive value (NPV
or false pass rate) which gives an essential measure of the chances of
missing an ear with a significant hearing impairment.
30.1
Confidence levels in DPOAE tests
In combination, the Noise Mode (Rapid or Standard) and SNR achieved
determine the confidence that a DPOAE has been detected in a test at a
single frequency. The table below shows the SNR required to achieve a
given confidence level for each noise mode:
OTOPORT
ADVANCE
ONLY
Response detection