Portable audiometric screening platforms used in low-resource settings: a review

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Global Health
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Disabling hearing loss affects millions worldwide, impacting speech, education, and social integration.
• Identifying hearing loss in low-resource countries remains a significant challenge.
• Early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes in individuals with hearing impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review currently available portable hearing screening platforms and technologies.
• To summarize their scope, capabilities, advantages, and limitations.
• To discuss their utilization in low-resource environments based on published data and expert experience.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published literature on hearing screening technologies.
• Inclusion of authors' practical experiences in low-resource settings.
• Analysis of portable screening platforms' technical specifications and field application.

Main Results:

• A range of portable hearing screening tools are accessible for use in diverse settings.
• Each technology presents unique benefits and drawbacks.
• Successful implementation depends on careful consideration of local needs and resources.

Conclusions:

• Portable hearing screening technologies offer viable solutions for identifying hearing loss in underserved regions.
• Selecting the optimal screening method requires a country-specific assessment of technological suitability and resource availability.
• Continued development and deployment of these tools can significantly improve global hearing healthcare access.