TEOAE analysis made easier
NAL-OAE is a Microsoft Windows-based software package developed by the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) for ease of analysing transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) records.
The analysis takes three forms - the first is the well known Rhode Island Criteria for early identification of hearing loss in neonates. The second and third forms are more revolutionary, made possible by the NAL discovery that TEOAEs also provide early warning of increased risk for hearing loss for school age children through adults. The first two are in the form of a traffic light which changes colour; the third is the probability that hearing loss exists (percent).
Over the last decade NAL has acquired a large database of over 15,000 TEOAE records, using ILO-88 series equipment manufactured by Otodynamics Limited, Hatfield, Herts, England. From this database a set of age-normative statistics has been derived and incorporated into NAL-OAE. By knowing mean emission levels for the Australian population as a function of age we have shown that it is possible to assess a person’s risk of hearing loss due to outer hair cell damage. Version 2 of the software has extended the software to access TEOAE records produced by GN Otometrics Capella equipment working under NOAH2 and NOAH3. Extensive testing has taken place to eliminate as far as possible differences in the two types of record such as slight differences in sample rate, probe and calibration etc.
Download the poster presentation of NAL-OAE software presented at the recent International Audiology Conference in Melbourne (March 17-22 2002) ASA 2002 OAE Poster.pdf
Features
Version 2 also provides for every TEOAE record imported into the NAL-OAE desktop:
- Redisplay of waveforms, spectra and parameters such as Stability, Stimulus level, Waverepro %, A&B mean.
- Calculation of the NAL measure of overall response: Coherent Emission Strength ("CES" dB SPL).
- Display of CES and Waverepro in relation to Australian population normative statistics showing whether the result is within normal limits.
- Display of Rhode Is. Risk criteria as a 3-colour traffic light (applies to neonates and infants).
- Display of NAL risk criteria as a 3-colour traffic light (applies to individuals over 7 years of age).
- Display of NAL-derived probability of hearing loss.
Screen Shot
This plot gives two types of information: it shows where an individual ear lies in relation to Australian population statistics and the subject's chronological age. The cross in the Australian male age-normative statistics plot (left) indicates that person’s CES value is within normal limits for his age and just above the population mean. Secondly, the coloured backdrop gives an indication of individual risk (which rises with increasing age).
Audiograms from the National Acoustic Laboratories database have been used to obtain the probability of hearing loss (%) for seven CES bands. The chart above shows significant increase in the probability of hearing loss in the lower CES bands, Indicating higher risk.
Operating Environment
- Intel 486 processor, Pentium 133 MHz or better
- IBM or IBM compatible PC.
- 28 MB RAM, VGA graphics adaptor, Mouse, Printer.
- Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 or Win2000.
Contact us
OAE Support
National Acoustic Laboratories
126 Greville Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
Australia
Telephone: +61 -2- 9412 6861
+61 -2- 9412 6868
Fax: +61 -2- 9411 8273
Email: oaesupport
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