A Mobile Phone–Based Approach for Hearing Screening of School-Age Children: Cross-Sectional Validation Study

Lee, Fa-Yauh; Lai, Yeong‐Lin; Tsao, Yu; Tu, Tzong Yang; Young, Shuenn Tsong; Chen, Tzer-Shyong; Chung, Yu-Fang; Lai, Feipei; Liao, Wen-Huei

doi:10.2196/12033

Cited by 42 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…Since conventional pure-tone audiometry is mostly unavailable in PCP settings, innovative telehealth [14,40,42,43]. The Ear Scale app proposed in this study has been shown to be feasible for hearing screenings in the pediatric population [26] and has been shown to have a good level of diagnostic accuracy for SSNHL. We believe that this novel tool, which incorporates the HST and smartphone-based technology, can serve as a point-of-care test for SSNHL at the PCP level because it is affordable, efficient, and requires minimal training to administer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The adjacent scales differed from one another by 5 dB (Multimedia Appendix 1). The test tones lasted for 1.5 seconds, and the silent intervals lasted for 2 to 3 seconds [26,28]. The Ear Scale app started with hearing scale 5 (S5), which corresponded to 25 dB HL.…”

Section: Smartphone-based Hearing Screening Appmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A previous study implemented the proposed Ear Scale app for hearing screening among a pediatric population and reported a strong correlation in the PTA between the app and conventional pure-tone audiometry in a soundproof booth as well as high accuracy in identifying school-aged children with hearing impairment [26]. Notably, Handzel et al [32] used a different smartphone-based app, the uHear hearing test app, for the initial assessment of unilateral SSNHL in 32 patients who had been diagnosed with SSNHL by standard audiometry.…”

Section: Comparison With Prior Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The HST has demonstrated satisfactory feasibility and accuracy for hearing screening programs in pediatric populations in prior studies [24,25]. A recent study that integrated the HST into a smartphone-based app (Ear Scale) reported remarkable validity for hearing screening among school-aged children [26]. Given the paucity of studies applying innovative mobile phone-based hearing measures to screen for SSNHL, the aim of our study was to determine the correlations of hearing outcomes measured by the proposed smartphone-based hearing screening app with those measured by traditional pure-tone audiometry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study

Lin

Lee

Lai

et al. 2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency that warrants urgent management. Pure-tone audiometry remains the gold standard for definitively diagnosing SSNHL. However, in clinical settings such as primary care practices and urgent care facilities, conventional pure-tone audiometry is often unavailable. Objective This study aimed to determine the correlation between hearing outcomes measured by conventional pure-tone audiometry and those measured by the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app and determine the diagnostic validity of the hearing scale differences between the two ears as obtained by the Ear Scale app for SSNHL. Methods This cross-sectional study included a cohort of 88 participants with possible SSNHL who were referred to an otolaryngology clinic or emergency department at a tertiary medical center in Taipei, Taiwan, between January 2018 and June 2019. All participants underwent hearing assessments with conventional pure-tone audiometry and the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app consecutively. The gold standard for diagnosing SSNHL was defined as the pure-tone average (PTA) difference between the two ears being ≥30 dB HL. The hearing results measured by the Ear Scale app were presented as 20 stratified hearing scales. The hearing scale difference between the two ears was estimated to detect SSNHL. Results The study sample comprised 88 adults with a mean age of 46 years, and 50% (44/88) were females. PTA measured by conventional pure-tone audiometry was strongly correlated with the hearing scale assessed by the Ear Scale app, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of .88 (95% CI .82-.92). The sensitivity of the 5–hearing scale difference (25 dB HL difference) between the impaired ear and the contralateral ear in diagnosing SSNHL was 95.5% (95% CI 87.5%-99.1%), with a specificity of 66.7% (95% CI 43.0%-85.4%). Conclusions Our findings suggest that the proposed smartphone-based Ear Scale app can be useful in the evaluation of SSNHL in clinical settings where conventional pure-tone audiometry is not available.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Smartphone-based Hearing Screening Appmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison With Prior Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study

Lin

Lee

Lai

et al. 2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some of this literature probes the applicability of mobile hearing testing in young adults or children. The paper presented by [81] is a case in point, where the authors outline a smartphone-based hearing screening method. The authors explore and compare their proposed smartphone-based hearing screening app (Ear Scale app) with Pure-tone Screening (PTS) in a sound-treated booth to test the hearing of school-age children.…”

Section: Hearing Testing Using Smartphonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smartphone Apps in the Context of Tinnitus: Systematic Review

Mehdi

Riha

Neff

et al. 2020

Sensors

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Smartphones containing sophisticated high-end hardware and offering high computational capabilities at extremely manageable costs have become mainstream and an integral part of users’ lives. Widespread adoption of smartphone devices has encouraged the development of many smartphone applications, resulting in a well-established ecosystem, which is easily discoverable and accessible via respective marketplaces of differing mobile platforms. These smartphone applications are no longer exclusively limited to entertainment purposes but are increasingly established in the scientific and medical field. In the context of tinnitus, the ringing in the ear, these smartphone apps range from relief, management, self-help, all the way to interfacing external sensors to better understand the phenomenon. In this paper, we aim to bring forth the smartphone applications in and around tinnitus. Based on the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically analyze and investigate the current state of smartphone apps, that are directly applied in the context of tinnitus. In particular, we explore Google Scholar, CiteSeerX, Microsoft Academics, Semantic Scholar for the identification of scientific contributions. Additionally, we search and explore Google’s Play and Apple’s App Stores to identify relevant smartphone apps and their respective properties. This review work gives (1) an up-to-date overview of existing apps, and (2) lists and discusses scientific literature pertaining to the smartphone apps used within the context of tinnitus.

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A Multicenter Validity Study of Four Smartphone Hearing Test Apps in Optimized and Home Environments

Swords,

Twumasi,

Fitzgerald

et al. 2024

The Laryngoscope

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ObjectivePure tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for hearing assessment. However, it requires access to specialized equipment. Smartphone audiometry applications (apps) have been developed to perform automated threshold audiometry and could allow patients to perform self‐administered screening or monitoring. This study aimed to assess the validity and feasibility of patients using apps to self‐assess hearing thresholds at home, with comparison to PTA.MethodsA multi‐center, prospective randomized study was conducted amongst patients undergoing PTA in clinics. Participants were randomly allocated to one of four publicly‐available apps designed to measure pure tone thresholds. Participants used an app once in optimal sound‐treated conditions and a further three times at home. Ear‐specific frequency‐specific thresholds and pure tone average were compared using Pearson correlation coefficient. The percentage of app hearing tests with results within ±10 dB of PTA was calculated. Patient acceptability was assessed via an online survey.ResultsOne hundred thirty‐nine participants submitted data. The results of two at‐home automated smartphone apps correlated strongly/very strongly with PTA average and their frequency‐specific median was within ±10 dB accuracy. Smartphone audiometry performed in sound‐treated and home conditions were very strongly correlated. The apps were rated as easy/very easy to use by 90% of participants and 90% would be happy/very happy to use an app to monitor their hearing.ConclusionJudicious use of self‐performed smartphone audiometry was both valid and feasible for two of four apps. It could provide frequency‐specific threshold estimates at home, potentially allowing assessments of patients remotely or monitoring of fluctuating hearing loss.Level of Evidence2 Laryngoscope, 2024

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A Mobile Phone–Based Approach for Hearing Screening of School-Age Children: Cross-Sectional Validation Study

Cited by 42 publications

References 40 publications

A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study

A Smartphone-Based Approach to Screening for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Cross-Sectional Validity Study

Smartphone Apps in the Context of Tinnitus: Systematic Review

A Multicenter Validity Study of Four Smartphone Hearing Test Apps in Optimized and Home Environments

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