Hearing screening for school children: utility of noise-cancelling headphones

Conclusions: NC headphones screening results differed from those obtained from TDH-39 earphones, with lower referral rates at 500 Hz, particularly at the 25 dB HL criterion level. Therefore, NC headphones may be able to operate at lower screening intensities and subsequently increase pure-tone screening test sensitivity, without compromising specificity. NC headphones show some promise as possible replacements for conventional earphones in school hearing screening programs.
Source: BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research