Hearing Tests on Mobile Devices: Evaluation of the Reference Sound Level by Means of Biological Calibration

Abstract

BackgroundHearing tests carried out in home setting by means of mobile devices require previous calibration of the reference sound level. Mobile devices with bundled headphones create a possibility of applying the predefined level for a particular model as an alternative to calibrating each device separately.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the reference sound level for sets composed of a mobile device and bundled headphones.MethodsReference sound levels for Android-based mobile devices were determined using an open access mobile phone app by means of biological calibration, that is, in relation to the normal-hearing threshold. The examinations were conducted in 2 groups: an uncontrolled and a controlled one. In the uncontrolled group, the fully automated self-measurements were carried out in home conditions by 18- to 35-year-old subjects, without prior hearing problems, recruited online. Calibration was conducted as a preliminary step in preparation for further examination. In the controlled group, audiologist-assisted examinations were performed in a sound booth, on normal-hearing subjects verified through pure-tone audiometry, recruited offline from among the workers and patients of the clinic. In both the groups, the reference sound levels were determined on a subject’s mobile device using the Bekesy audiometry. The reference sound levels were compared between the groups. Intramodel and intermodel analyses were carried out as well.ResultsIn the uncontrolled group, 8988 calibrations were conducted on 8620 different devices representing 2040 models. In the controlled group, 158 calibrations (test and retest) were conducted on 79 devices representing 50 models. Result analysis was performed for 10 most frequently used models in both the groups. The difference in reference sound levels between uncontrolled and controlled groups was 1.50 dB (SD 4.42). The mean SD of the reference sound level determined for devices within the same model was 4.03 dB (95% CI 3.93-4.11). Statistically significant differences were found across models.ConclusionsReference sound levels determined in the uncontrolled group are comparable to the values obtained in the controlled group. This validates the use of biological calibration in the uncontrolled group for determining the predefined reference sound level for new devices. Moreover, due to a relatively small deviation of the reference sound level for devices of the same model, it is feasible to conduct hearing screening on devices calibrated with the predefined reference sound level.

Hearing Tests Based on Biologically Calibrated Mobile Devices: Comparison With Pure-Tone Audiometry

“…This study constitutes the second part of the planned research. The calibration method was adopted from a previous study [ 1 ], and it involved semiautomated determination of predefined, model-specific reference sound level.…”

A Tablet-Based Mobile Hearing Screening System for Preschoolers: Design and Validation Study (Preprint)

“…This could be done by adjust the internal gain at each wordpower level so that the output measurement by the sound level meter yields the same dBA as measured when driving the TDH headphone. Masalski,et al studied the reference sound level by means of biological calibration on 8,620 different devices representing models [36]. The reference sound level is not much different among the subjects and small deviation in the same model.…”

Methods used in mobile applications for the diagnosis of hearing loss: A systematic mapping study

“…De revista científica [19], [20], [9], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [6], [14], [26], [27], [11], [28], [29], [4], [30], [5], [31], [32], [12], [13], [33], [34], [35], [36] De conferencia [37], [38] Manuscrito [39] El protocolo de investigación más utilizado es el estudio de caso, el 69% (n=20) de los estudios primarios que utilizan este protocolo hacen referencia a aplicaciones móviles…”

“…Ciencia del diseño [17], [20], [21], [24], [26], [11], [34], [35] Estudio de caso [16], [8], [18], [19], [22], [5], [13], [23], [10], [3], [27], [4], [28], [29], [12], [30], [31], [32], [36], [25] Revisión de literatura [33] Tomando como referencia el período comprendido entre los años 2003 y 2018, tiempo durante en el cual se desarrollaron y evaluaron aplicaciones móviles para diagnóstico de pérdida auditiva, se encontró que del total de estudios seleccionados: el 21% se publicaron en el 2016, el 24% se publicaron en el 2017 y el 17% se publicaron hasta mayo del 2018, años en los que se presentaron un mayor número de publicaciones, con estudios de caso de aplicaciones móviles disponibles en el mercado online y, publicaciones donde se desarrollaron nuevas aplicaciones para el diagnóstico de pérdida auditiva, que no han sido comercializadas, en la Figura 2 se puede observar la distribución de artículos por año de publicación.…”