A longitudinal study comparing responses of hearing-impaired infants to pure tones using visual reinforcement and play audiometry.

A group of hearing-impaired infants, originally identified using visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA), were followed until they could be tested using more conventional play audiometry. Minimum response levels using VRA on this hearing-impaired population were highly consistent with measurements obtained later by play audiometry. Statistical analysis shows no significant differences between the two approaches. Test results obtained after the child's second birthday using conventional play audiometry were sufficiently similar to the earlier results obtained by VRA to validate the early test findings. VRA information can be obtained during a period of time when the child is too young to give behavioral information in another way. Use of the VRA test method can specifically define a hearing-impaired infant's minimum response levels so that definite recommendations can be made for auditory management.