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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Published on: March 13, 2026
Intercontinental hearing assessment - a study in tele-audiology.
De Wet Swanepoel1, Dirk Koekemoer, Jackie Clark
1Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. dewet.swanepoel@up.ac.za
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
|May 12, 2010
Summary
Remote audiometry testing, using desktop sharing and videoconferencing, proved valid for assessing hearing thresholds between North America and South Africa. This technology shows promise for expanding audiological services globally.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Telemedicine
- Global Health
Background:
- Access to audiological services is limited in many remote regions.
- Conventional audiometry requires in-person visits, posing logistical challenges.
- Technological advancements offer potential solutions for remote healthcare delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of remote pure tone audiometric testing.
- To compare remote intercontinental audiometry with conventional face-to-face testing.
- To assess the feasibility of expanding audiological services through remote testing.
Main Methods:
- Desktop-sharing software controlled an audiometer remotely (Dallas to Pretoria).
- PC-based videoconferencing facilitated clinician-subject communication.
- Pure tone audiometric thresholds (125-8000 Hz) were compared between 30 adult subjects tested remotely and face-to-face.
Main Results:
- Remote and face-to-face audiometry thresholds showed minimal differences (10 dB in only 4% of cases).
- Limits of agreement were -8 and 7 dB, with a 90% confidence interval of -5 to 5 dB.
- Average reaction times were similar; remote testing was 21% longer in duration.
Conclusions:
- Remote intercontinental audiometric testing demonstrated no clinically significant differences compared to conventional methods.
- This technology is a viable option for delivering audiological services to underserved populations.
- Teleaudiology can potentially overcome geographical barriers to hearing healthcare access.
