TY  - BOOK
AU  - Penaflor,Neil
AU  - Llanes,Eris
AU  - Hilario,Oscar
AU  - Abes,Generoso T
TI  - Precision of the 512-hertz tuning fork for air conduction test in adults
KW  - 512-Hertz
KW  - Mass Hearing Screening
N2  - One hundred randomly selected personnel of a tertiary hospital were recruited as subjects to determine the possibility of using a 512-hertz as a tool for mass hearing screening. The primary objective was to determine the sound intensity level generated by the 512-hz tuning fork when four different procedures were employed: 1. Wrist action alone with the generated sound measured 3 inches from the sensors of a sound level meter 2. Wrist action alone-sound measured 6 inches away 3. Combined wrist and elbow action-sound measured 3 inches away 4. Combined wrist and elbow action-sound measured 6 inches away Secondary objectives were: 1. To determine which among the four procedures produced the least variability of results 2. Determine whether results would vary according to sex and procedure Results showed that the mean sound intensity level generated by the four procedures measured in sound pressure level (SPL) and converted into hearing level (HL) were 48.47 db HL (44.81-52.55, range=7.74). The mean standard deviation was 4.11 db HL (2.67-4.46; range=1.59). The procedure employing wrist action alone with sound intensity measured 6 inches away had the least variability. Two-way analysis of variance showed that sex and procedures were determinants of the differences in test results (p.001 for both). Though the differences were statistically different, the magnitude of difference was less than 5 db HL. Such magnitude is however not considered clinically significant since it may be due to interest variability itself. Hence the narrow range of variability in mean results and corresponding small standard deviations indicate that the 512hz tuning fork has a good potential as a tool for mass hearing screening programs. Further studies are suggested to determine its reliability and applicability
ER  -