ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of hearing tests performed with the Audioscope III and the classical audiometer. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two general practices in South Limburg, the Netherlands. METHOD: The hearing of 115 patients aged 55-93 years who visited the practice for any reason was tested with the Audioscope III and subsequently with the screening audiometer, in two silent examination rooms. The tests were performed independently by two general practice trainees. Finally, the subjects were asked which instrument they preferred. An ear was diagnosed as 'hard or hearing' if the Fletcher index measured with the audiometer was > 30 dB or if, with the Audioscope III, 1, 2, 3 or 4 tones were not heard at 40 dB. RESULTS: Depending on the number of tones not heard, the agreement between the measuring results ranged from 65 to 86%. If subjects during the examination with the Audioscope III failed to hear > or = 2 tones at 40 dB, the conclusion 'hardness of hearing', judged by the audiometric results, was correct in all cases. Conversely, the proportion of ears incorrectly diagnosed as 'not abnormal' at this limit was 39%. Hearing tests with the Audioscope III took little time (0.5-4 minutes) and were in general tolerated well. CONCLUSION: The Audioscope III is a useful instrument in situations in which there is a high prevalence of auditory disorders, for instance in general practices with a relatively elderly patient population.
