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Validating Smartphone-Based and Web-Based Applications for Remote Hearing Assessment
Boaz Mui1, De Wet Swanepoel2, Vinaya Manchaiah2
1*College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|March 31, 2025
Summary
This study validated smartphone apps for hearing tests, finding varied accuracy but generally good reliability and usability for remote hearing screening. Further research is needed to enhance their clinical potential.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Audiology
- Mobile Health (mHealth)
Background:
- Untreated hearing loss has significant physical, mental, and social consequences.
- In-person hearing assessments are often inaccessible in certain regions.
- Smartphone and web-based applications offer potential for remote hearing assessment but require validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance, ecological validity, and usability of two smartphone apps (Hearing Test, Mimi Hearing Test) and one web-based app (MDHearing Aid).
- To compare the accuracy and reliability of these remote hearing assessment tools against standard audiometry.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional validation study involving 60 adults with varying degrees of hearing loss.
- Participants underwent standard audiometry followed by assessments using the three apps in a lab and at home.
- Data analysis included sensitivity, specificity, accuracy (ICC), test-retest reliability (ICC), and usability (MAUQ scores).
Main Results:
- All apps demonstrated moderate to good sensitivity and specificity.
- Accuracy varied by frequency, with moderate to excellent results above 1000 Hz for most apps.
- Test-retest reliability and usability were generally moderate to excellent across all tested applications.
Conclusions:
- The evaluated hearing assessment apps show promise with reasonable performance metrics and high usability.
- The Hearing Test app may be suitable for adult hearing screening and monitoring after further validation.
- Additional research is essential to fully realize the clinical utility of these mHealth hearing assessment tools.
