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Hearing Screening in Private Family Practice Medicine Using Tablet Applications
Maria El Mouahidine1, Arnaud Génin1,2,3, Frédéric Venail1,3,4
1University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Annals of Family Medicine
|April 29, 2025
Summary
App-based hearing tests are feasible for family practice, detecting hearing loss efficiently. The pure-tone test alone may suffice for screening, aiding early diagnosis in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Digital Health
Background:
- Hearing loss is a prevalent, underdiagnosed condition.
- Automatic self-hearing tests offer a potential solution for early detection.
- These tests typically involve pure-tone and speech-in-noise evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of app-based hearing screening in family practice.
- To assess the utility of combined pure-tone and speech-in-noise tests versus pure-tone alone.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 516 eligible patients across 3 French medical centers.
- Utilized the SONUP application with fast pure-tone (SoTone) and speech-in-noise (SoNoise) tests.
- Measured protocol duration, test pertinence, and detection rates with follow-up.
Main Results:
- 219 patients (42%) completed both tests; 59 (27%) showed positive results for hearing loss.
- The SoTone test (1 min 10 sec) appeared sufficient for detecting hearing loss.
- Low follow-up rates observed: 14 consulted an ENT specialist, 8 received hearing aids.
Conclusions:
- App-based hearing screenings are compatible with family medical consultations.
- Tablet applications can support general practitioners in diagnosing hearing disorders.
- The SoTone test shows promise as an efficient screening tool in primary care.
