Creating a DPOAE Pass/Refer Test Protocol

This quick guide outlines the procedure for creating a pass/refer DPOAE test protocol. Parameters and settings should be based on an appropriate pass/refer criterion.

1. Open the Titan Suite software and click on the DPOAE tab.
2. Go to Menu | Setup | Protocol setup.
3. In the Protocol setup screen, click on New and type in the desired protocol name in the Selected protocol box.
4. From the Available tests box, double click on DP-Gram. DP-Gram (Unconfigured) will now appear in the Selected tests box.
5. Click on the Settings button below the Selected tests box.
6. In the Frequency (f2) box, type in each of the required frequencies for testing. Press Add after each frequency. Alternatively, use the Add series option
   
7. The Basic and Advanced tabs offer options to change the L1-L2 levels, set the Acceptable noise level (level above which OAE recording will be rejected due to noise), the f2/f1 ratio and the level tolerance. Choose to measure at ambient or peak pressure.
   
8. Under the Common test settings – Stop criteria tab, select the following:
   1. Test time – select from a maximum test time (test runs in loops until time expires) or maximum point time (seconds tested per frequency test point).
   2. Include DP criteria as stop criteria – this box should remain checked to include the DP criteria as stop criteria.
   3. Enable Pass/refer – check this box and accept the disclaimer.
   4. Minimum number of points required for a pass – select the minimum number of test points required to label the result as a pass.
   5. Include residual noise as stop criterion – check this box to include the residual noise as a stop criterion.
      
9. Under DP criteria, the following can be set:
   1. Minimum DP level – the minimum level in dB SPL that the OAE must be measured at.
   2. SNR – the minimum signal-to-noise ratio that must be reached.
   3. DP tolerance – how stable the OAE must be over time.
   4. Residual noise - defines at which level the residual noise is considered to be so silent that a DPOAE would have been detected, if it were present.
   5. Required for a pass – specific frequencies that must be detected for a pass can be set.
      
10. Under DP reliability – set how reliable the DPOAE measurement must be. It is not recommended to set this below 98% as this will reduce the reliability of the measurement.
    
11. Under Display, the following can be set:
    1. Ears – select whether to show one ear or both ears on screen. The summary view displays the test and point summary in table format.
    2. Details – select bar view (simple view) or graph view (advanced view of signal and noise).

    When graph view is selected, choose to display the probe check and/or the response graph.
    

12. Once all settings have been selected. Press OK to close the Protocol setup window.
13. Press Apply and OK to save the protocol and return to the test screen.

Note: Screen-shots in this document are a guide only and are not recommended settings for a DPOAE pass/refer protocol. Refer to the Titan Additional Information document for a more detailed description of the various criteria.