Usability of a hearing test mobile app across generations.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Mobile Health Technology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Traditional hearing assessments face accessibility barriers.
• Mobile applications offer a promising alternative for self-hearing assessment.
• Usability and effectiveness of hearing apps across age groups require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability of the "Hearing Test" mobile application across different age demographics.
• To compare the app's self-assessed hearing thresholds with traditional pure tone audiometry.
• To identify age-related usability challenges of mobile hearing testing tools.

Main Methods:

• 77 participants were divided into three age groups (16-39, 40-59, 60+).
• Participants used the "Hearing Test" app for self-assessment, followed by audiologist-administered pure tone audiometry.
• App usability was assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) questionnaire, observation, and interviews.

Main Results:

• The app generally produced results comparable to pure tone audiometry.
• Older participants reported greater difficulties with app functionality and engagement.
• Installation and result interpretation posed significant challenges for the oldest age group; none could complete the test independently.

Conclusions:

• The "Hearing Test" app shows potential for preliminary hearing screening, especially for younger users.
• Older adults experienced significant usability issues, including installation and result interpretation.
• Enhancing app usability for older adults requires tailored interfaces, tutorials, and clearer result presentations.