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Evaluating the Accuracy and User Satisfaction of Culturally-Relevant Kannada-Based Hearing Screening App Compared to
Hemanth Narayan Shetty1, Juditha Tina2
1Department of Audiology, JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
Introduction:
Non-technical hearing screening using a self-assessment questionnaire in a mobile app offers a low-cost solution for at-risk populations. The present study developed Kannada-language hearing questions using health literacy principles-plain language, simple phrasing, and dialect inclusion-to improve accessibility for underserved groups.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of culturally relevant Kannada hearing questions in detecting hearing loss compared with technical screening. The objectives were to assess the content validity of the new questionnaire, compare the accuracy of technical and non-technical screening apps against conventional pure-tone audiometry, and measure client satisfaction.
Study Sample And Design:
Eighty-four participants aged 20 to 45 years with minimal-to- moderate hearing loss were evaluated using a comparative research design.
Methods:
A standardised adult hearing questionnaire was developed and content-validated. Each participant underwent hearing screening with both technical and non-technical mobile apps, followed by a client satisfaction survey. Conventional pure-tone audiometry (0.5-8 kHz) was used to determine hearing thresholds.
Results:
The technical screening app demonstrated 97% sensitivity and accuracy, with 95% specificity. Although the non-technical app initially showed lower accuracy, employing a two-refer threshold improved its performance to 86% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 97% accuracy. Additionally, user satisfaction ratings were higher for the non-technical app.
Conclusion:
With a two-refer threshold, the accuracy of the Kannada non-technical screening app was comparable to that of the technical screening method.
Clinical Relevance:
The self-guided technical app benefits individuals with technical proficiency, while the non-technical screening is ideal for native speakers with dexterity issues or limited technical skills.
