The effect of initial stimulus type for visual reinforcement audiometry.

Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) is routinely used with infants to assess hearing level. It is an operant procedure based on the association of auditory and visual stimuli. There are several recommended test procedures for VRA.

Anomalous screening outcomes from click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response tests.

Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests were used in parallel to screen 862 neonates with risk factors for hearing loss. Seven neonates (0.81%) passed on TEOAE screen yet failed on ABR in one ear (six neonates) or both ears (one neonate).

Changing performance of the Health Visitor Distraction Test when targeted neonatal screening is introduced into a health district.

The change in the performance of the HVDT as targeted neonatal hearing screening has been introduced has been examined for the Nottingham district. The records for all children born in the period 1984-1993 within the district and having a permanent hearing loss of > or = 50 dB in the better ear have been examined. The referral route leading to ascertainment of the hearing loss as well as the result of any screening tests were noted.

A comparison of test-retest variability of caloric induced nystagmus in a normal population using an air stimulus presented via a standard and modified irrigating probe.

The caloric test has traditionally been carried out using water. Air caloric techniques have been available for some time but one of the reported disadvantages is the high variability of response (Coats et al., 1976).

Late partial recovery from meningitic deafness after cochlear implantation: a case study.

A child with well-documented total bilateral deafness as a result of meningitis contracted at the age of 2 years and 8 months demonstrated remarkably delayed recovery of hearing 14 months later. In the meantime cochlear implantation had been performed. Hearing returned partially in the nonimplanted ear and also in the ear implanted with a long multi-electrode intracochlear array, giving unaided thresholds at frequencies from 0.