Biological calibration for web-based hearing tests: evaluation of the methods.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Health

Background:

• Online hearing tests require accurate sound level calibration for reliable results.
• Biological calibration uses the hearing threshold of individuals with normal hearing to approximate reference sound levels.
• Personal computer (PC) based hearing tests conducted at home necessitate robust calibration methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the error, duration, and subjective difficulty of proposed biological calibration methods for PC-based online hearing tests.
• To identify optimal calibration techniques for home-based audiological assessments.
• To compare different methods for measuring calibration coefficients and determining reference sound levels.

Main Methods:

• Seven methods for measuring calibration coefficients were assessed, referencing normal hearing thresholds.
• Three methods were used to determine reference sound levels based on calibration coefficients.
• Web-based self-assessment of calibration coefficients was conducted in clinic and home settings, with pure-tone audiometry for comparison.

Main Results:

• The Bekesy audiometry method with a modulated signal showed the smallest calibration coefficient standard deviation (3.87 dB).
• Self-adjustment to the barely audible level was the simplest and shortest method, with a deviation of 4.97 dB.
• Methods determining reference sound levels independently for each frequency yielded the smallest error, with standard deviations ranging from 7.27 dB to 10.38 dB compared to pure-tone audiometry.

Conclusions:

• The study analyzed calibration error, time, and difficulty for web-based hearing tests.
• Results guide the selection of calibration methods for home-based audiological assessments.
• The Bekesy method with independent frequency-specific reference sound level determination is recommended for minimal error when time is not a constraint.