Critical Differences in Aided Sound Field Thresholds in Children

Variability of aided sound field thresholds (ASFTs) was examined in 30 children comprising two age groups (5-9 and 10-14 years). Test-retest ASFTs were collected at six frequencies (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz). No statistically significant difference was found in mean test and retest ASFTs between the two groups (p greater than .05). Test-retest difference data from both groups of children were combined and used to generate critical differences (in dB) for two ASFTs. At a 95% confidence level, two ASFTs would have to differ by more than 10 dB across signal test frequencies to attain statistical significance. In clinical decision-making, if one accepts smaller differences in ASFTs as statistically significant, larger probabilities of error must be assumed.