The purpose of this study was to validate diagnostic pure-tone audiometry in schools without a sound-treated booth using the Kuduwave audiometer. The Kuduwave audiometer incorporates insert earphones covered by circumaural ear-cups and real-time environmental noise monitoring.
Air and bone conduction thresholds were obtained using the Kuduwave audiometer in natural school environments. The thresholds obtained with the Kuduwave audiometer were compared to thresholds obtained in a single-walled sound-treated booth with a Kuduwave audiometer.
The subjects in this study were school children with an average age of 6.9 years (range = 5-8 years).
Results from the study showed no statistically significant differences between thresholds recorded in natural school environments and sound-treated booth environments for air and bone-conduction thresholds.
Diagnostic air and bone conduction audiometry in schools, without a sound-treated room, with the Kuduwave audiometer is possible. This is as a result of sufficient ambient noise attenuation and real-time monitoring of environmental noise provided by the Kuduwave audiometer.