PATIENT COMFORT IN AUDIOLOGICAL TESTING

A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the relative comfo rt of a comprehensive range of diagnostic procedures. The mean comfort ranking and variability in comfort were examined. Pure tone audiometr y and speech audiometry are the most comfortable tests, while caloric testing and transtympanic electrocochleography are the least comfortab le. However, caloric testing and glycerol dehydration are not signific antly different in comfort to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and br ainstem evoked response testing is more comfortable than other diagnos tic tests, including MRI. The reasons for these differences and the im plications for diagnostic management are discussed.