Background: A test protocol is created when individual tests are combined. Even with a few tests,
many different protocols are possible. Often, the clinician must select a protocol
without information as to the performance of the possible protocols. A model to predict
protocol performance could help in this selection process.
Purpose: To evaluate the validity and accuracy of a mathematical model for predicting protocol
performance.
Research Design: Predictions of the model are compared to actual data on protocol performance.
Results: With complete information, there was almost perfect agreement between predicted and
actual data. With partial information, the model still made very accurate estimates
of protocol performance.
Conclusions: Even with incomplete information, which is frequently the case in a clinical situation,
the model can eliminate many protocols from consideration and aid in the selection
of an appropriate protocol.
Key Words
Audiology - central auditory processing disorder - False Alarm Rate - hearing - Hit
Rate - Intermediate criterion - Loose criterion - Strict criterion - test correlation
- test protocol
