Equivalent threshold sound pressure levels for click and CE-Chirp stimuli delivered by the SnapPROBE™.

Objective: To estimate the equivalent threshold sound pressure levels (ETSPLs) for nine stimuli used today and in the future for universal newborn hearing screening and diagnostics delivered by the Interacoustics SnapPROBE™.

Design: The Click and eight variants of the CE-Chirp were included to establish ETSPLs when delivered by the SnapPROBE™. The short duration stimuli were presented at a 20/s repetition rate for about 1-2 s following the international standards for establishing ETSPLs.

Study Sample: 50 ears from a total of 27 normal hearing young adult subjects (female/male = 16/11; age = 21-25 years, mean age = 23.1 years).

Results: Peak-to-peak equivalent signal levels and root mean square signal levels (at 20/s repetition rate) for the nine stimuli are stated.

Conclusions: The ETSPLs are in alignment overall with those found in previous studies, while some levels are about 2-6 dB higher for this study compared to the Interacoustics Titan IOW probe and the ER-3A insert earphone. The results are relevant for present and future universal newborn hearing screening and diagnostics carried out with the SnapPROBE™ to ensure that correct stimulation levels are applied.