High-Frequency Pure-Tone Audiometry in Children: A Test–Retest Reliability Study Relative to Ototoxic Criteria

Abstract

: Overall, this study demonstrated high test-retest reliability of HFPTA in all but the 4 to 6 yr group. With a false-positive rate of 24.6% for ototoxicity for the youngest group, it is recommended that the HFPTA should not be used alone in assessing the possibility of a genuine threshold shift for this age group. If possible, the HFPTA should be supplemented with an objective test of auditory function to confirm the diagnosis. For children aged 7 yr or older, the HFPTA test is promising as a useful tool to identify hearing impairment in the extended high-frequency range (>8 kHz). However, interpretation of HFPTA findings in serial testing for monitoring hearing in a child should be made with due attention being given to the frequency of the stimulus, age of the child, and the associated nonzero false-positive rates.