Accuracy of smartphone-based hearing screening tests: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Digital Health
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Hearing loss is a significant global health issue.
• Accurate and accessible screening methods are crucial for early detection and intervention.
• Smartphone applications offer a potential low-cost solution for widespread hearing screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and verify the accuracy of smartphone applications for identifying hearing loss.
• To assess the diagnostic validity of mobile health tools compared to traditional audiometry.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review adhering to the PRISMA-DATA checklist was conducted.
• Studies were identified through comprehensive searches of multiple databases and grey literature.
• Smartphone hearing screening tests (index) were compared against pure-tone audiometry (reference standard).

Main Results:

• Out of 1395 articles, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, with only four achieving high methodological quality.
• The most frequently studied apps included Digits-in noise Test, uHear, HearScreen, and hearTest.
• All evaluated applications demonstrated sensitivity and specificity values ranging from 75% to 100%.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone applications such as uHear, Digit-in-Noise Test, HearTest, and HearScreen exhibit significant sensitivity and specificity.
• These apps are considered accurate and reliable tools for the screening of hearing impairment.
• Mobile health technology presents a promising avenue for accessible hearing health assessment.