Smartphone based audiometric test for confirming the level of hearing; is it useable in underserved areas?


Renda L., Selçuk Ö. T., Eyigör H., Osma Ü., Yılmaz M. D.

Journal of International Advanced Otology, cilt.12, sa.1, ss.61-66, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 12 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2016
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5152/iao.2016.1421
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of International Advanced Otology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.61-66
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Audiometry, Hearing, Smartphone
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

OBJECTIVE: To determine the hearing levels of participants of a randomized group using a smartphone hearing application and to compare these results with the results from a pure-tone audiogram. MATERIALS and METHODS: A heterogenous group consisting of both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired participants were included in this study. Pure-tone audiogram thresholds were measured from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz, while smartphone measurements were obtained with a Samsung Galaxy GT-19500 S4 with a bundled headphone running the Hearing Test™ software (e-audiologia.pl), which was downloaded from the Google Play Store as a free application. We compared these results with those obtained from pure-tone audiograms performed by an audiologist as a reference. RESULTS: Validity analysis indicated that the results for each ear and each frequency were excellent (>0.75). We assessed the mean difference between the pure-tone audiogram and the smartphone hearing test results and found the absolute difference to be less than 8.8 dB. CONCLUSION: Smartphone hearing test applications are providing alternative tests that present low-cost solutions. Using the hearing application test may decrease the demand for audiological services in underserved areas. The study suggests that smartphone hearing test results are comparable to pure-tone audiometry results.