PREVALENCE OF SPONTANEOUS OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS IN ADULTS REVISITED

The potential influence of spectral analysis factors on estimates of t he prevalence of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAE) was explored . The detection of a SOAE was influenced by two spectral factors: (I) the frequency resolution of the spectrum, and (2) the number of spectr al averages. For 15 different combinations of these two factors, the e stimate of the prevalence of SOAEs for females ranged from 64 to 81% a nd, for males, from 39 to 55%. Combining across all 15 combinations, 8 3% of the females and 62% of the males were judged to have SOAEs. Thes e results provide a context for understanding the inconsistencies in p revious estimates of the prevalence of SOAEs and underscore the need t o employ many different spectral analyses because some SOAEs are only detected when the spectral analyses are suitably tailored.