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Internet application to tele-audiology--"nothin' but net"
Gregg D Givens1, Saravanan Elangovan
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. givensg@mail.ecu.edu
American Journal of Audiology
|February 18, 2004
Summary
This study shows a new telehearing system accurately measures auditory thresholds remotely via the internet. This telehealth innovation offers improved audiological services for rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Telehealth
- Internet-based healthcare
Background:
- Specialized audiological services are often inaccessible in rural areas.
- Telehealth offers a potential solution to bridge this healthcare gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a remote audiometer system operated via the internet.
- To compare the performance of a telehearing system against a conventional audiometer.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind study involving 45 adult participants.
- Comparison of auditory threshold assessments between a conventional audiometer and a remotely controlled internet-based audiometer.
Main Results:
- Audiometric thresholds assessed by both systems varied by no more than 1.3 dB for air conduction and 1.2 dB for bone conduction.
- Demonstrated high accuracy and feasibility of the telehearing system.
Conclusions:
- The developed telehearing system is a feasible and accurate method for remote assessment of auditory thresholds.
- Telehealth, through systems like this, can significantly expand healthcare coverage for underserved rural populations needing audiological services.