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A systematic review of mHealth-based paediatric hearing screening tools/devices
Vishnu Saravana1, Vidya Ramkumar1, Arivudai Nambi Pitchaimuthu2
1Department of Audiology, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Mobile Health (mHealth) hearing screeners offer affordable alternatives for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. This review found comparable validity to traditional devices but highlights a need for more options for infants and toddlers.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Mobile Health Technology
Background:
- Traditional hearing screening devices are effective but costly for low- and middle-income countries.
- Mobile Health (mHealth) hearing screeners present an accessible, affordable, and scalable alternative for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs.
- There is a growing demand for cost-effective mHealth solutions in pediatric audiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the validity, cost, and commercial availability of mHealth hearing screeners for pediatric populations worldwide.
- To identify and categorize available mHealth hearing screening tools for children aged 0-18 years.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
- Studies published from 2014 onwards focusing on pediatric populations (0-18 years) were included.
- Twenty-seven mHealth screeners were identified from 38 eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Three objective and 24 subjective mHealth hearing screeners were identified.
- Subjective screeners primarily target children over three years old.
- Sensitivity and specificity were comparable to traditional methods, though validation varied; only one objective screener is commercially available.
Conclusions:
- A significant need exists for mHealth hearing screeners suitable for infants and toddlers.
- Current mHealth options predominantly serve older children.
- Further development of objective and accessible mHealth screeners for younger age groups is crucial for comprehensive EHDI programs.
