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Observer Bias as a Factor in Neonatal Hearing Screening

Barbara McCulloch
University of Nebraska, Lincoln

A. J. Derbyshire
University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago

Rich Dethlefs
University of Nebraska, Lincoln

To evaluate observer bias as a possible factor influencing neonatal hearing testing, two trained observers were asked to evaluate the behavior of 200 neonates at a moment the observers thought a stimulus was being presented. Observers were receiving masking noise, and when the stimulus button was pressed a stimulus might or might not be delivered to the child. Results suggest that observer bias is not a factor when arousal is the only acceptable response and is clearly defined, and the observers are limited to a yes-no decision. Sequential analysis of infant response patterns is presented and a specific test scoring protocol is outlined.