A correlative study of evoked otoacoustic emission properties and audiometric thresholds.

Correlations were made between the detection thresholds of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs), subjective click thresholds, and mean audiometric thresholds in 240 normal and hearing-impaired ears. EOAEs have never been observed when subjective click thresholds or mean audiometric thresholds were equal to or greater than 35 dB HL. EOAEs were always found when click thresholds were equal to or lower than 15 dB HL and when mean audiometric thresholds were equal to or lower than 22 dB HL. The incidence of EOAEs decreased and EOAE thresholds increased with increasing click or mean audiometric thresholds.