Ecological momentary assessment in hearing healthcare: a scoping review

This scoping review systematically describes how EMA has been applied to assess auditory experiences among individuals with hearing loss in published research studies.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The final search was completed on 15 May 2025. Data were synthesised narratively.

Forty-nine studies published between 2002 and 2025 were included. Eligible studies included individuals of any age with diagnosed hearing loss using hearing devices or accessing hearing healthcare services.

All studies were conducted in high-income countries. Most participants were adults with hearing loss using hearing devices; one study included paediatric participants. EMA was predominantly administered via smartphones and primarily employed prompted surveys with closed-ended questions over one week. Data logging featured in over half the studies. Study aims varied, with the acoustic environment being the outcome most frequently measured. Compliance rates were generally high; technological challenges were the main barrier to EMA completion.

EMA offers a complementary approach for assessing real-world hearing experiences. Future research should focus on consistent methods, protocol standardisation, cultural adaptation, demographic diversity, and multimodal input to enhance EMA's clinical value.