Validation of web-based audiometry version of HEARZAP
Pandi Renganath P1, Vidya Ramkumar1
1Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Plos One
|March 28, 2023
Summary
The HEARZAP web-based audiometer accurately measures hearing thresholds for air and bone conduction, showing high reliability comparable to traditional methods. This technology can improve hearing healthcare access.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Medical Devices
- Hearing Science
Background:
- Hearing loss diagnosis relies on accurate audiometry.
- Traditional audiometers require specialized equipment and settings.
- Web-based solutions offer potential for increased accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the accuracy of the HEARZAP web-based audiometer.
- To compare HEARZAP's air and bone conduction threshold measurements against a gold standard.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional validation study design.
- 50 participants (100 ears) with normal hearing and hearing loss.
- Comparison of HEARZAP with a gold standard audiometer for pure tone audiometry.
Main Results:
- Mean discrepancies for air and bone conduction thresholds were 1.22 dB HL and 0.8 dB HL, respectively.
- Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.94 for air and 0.91 for bone conduction.
- Bland Altman plots confirmed excellent agreement between HEARZAP and the gold standard.
Conclusions:
- The HEARZAP web-based audiometer provides precise hearing threshold measurements.
- HEARZAP's accuracy is comparable to established gold standard audiometers.
- This technology has the potential to enhance hearing service accessibility and multi-clinic functionality.
