Dataset Information

AMTASTM and user-operated smartphone research application audiometry-An evaluation study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate two user-operated audiometry methods, the AMTASTM PC-based audiometry and a low-cost smartphone audiometry research application (R-App).

Design

A repeated-measures within-subject study design was used to compare both user-operated methods to traditional manual audiometry and to evaluate test-retest reliability of each method.

Study sample

58 subjects were recruited in the study of which 83 ears had normal hearing thresholds and 33 ears had hearing loss (pure-tone average > 25 dB HL). Average age of participants was 44.8 years, with an age range of 11-85.

Results

Standard deviation of absolute differences ranged between 3.9-6.9 dB on AMTASTM and 4.5-6.8 dB on the R-App. The highest variability was found at the 8000 Hz frequency (R-App and AMTASTM test) and 3000 Hz frequency (AMTASTM retest). Evaluation of test-retest reliability of AMTASTM and R-App showed SD of absolute differences ranging between 3.5-5.8 dB and 3.1-5.0 dB, respectively. The mean threshold difference between test and retest was within ±1.5 dB on AMTASTM and ±1 dB on the R-App.

Conclusion

Accuracy of AMTASTM and the R-App was within acceptable limits for audiometry and comparable to traditional manual audiometry on all tested frequencies (250-8000 Hz). Evaluation of test-retest reliability showed acceptable variation on both AMTASTM and R-App. Both user-operated methods could be reliably performed in a quiet non-soundproofed environment.

SUBMITTER: Sorensen CB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10501612 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

AMTASTM and user-operated smartphone research application audiometry-An evaluation study.

Sørensen Chris Bang CB Adams Thomas Bording TB Pedersen Ellen Raben ER Nielsen Jacob J Schmidt Jesper Hvass JH

PloS one 20230914 9

<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate two user-operated audiometry methods, the AMTASTM PC-based audiometry and a low-cost smartphone audiometry research application (R-App).<h4>Design</h4>A repeated-measures within-subject study design was used to compare both user-operated methods to traditional manual audiometry and to evaluate test-retest reliability of each method.<h4>Study sample</h4>58 subjects were recruited in the study of which 83 ears had normal hearing thresholds and 33 ears had hearing loss ...[more]

PMID: 37708125

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Project description:IntroductionThere is a worldwide need to enhance the capacity of audiometry testing. The objective of this study is to compare the User-operated Audiometry (UAud) system with traditional audiometry in a clinical setting, by investigating if hearing aid effectiveness based on UAud is non-inferior to hearing aid effectiveness based on traditional audiometry, and whether thresholds obtained with the user-operated version of the Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT) test correlates to traditional measures of speech intelligibility.Methods and analysisThe design will be a blinded non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. 250 adults referred for hearing aid treatment will be enrolled in the study. Study participants will be tested using both traditional audiometry as well as the UAud system and they will answer the questionnaire Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) at baseline. Participants will be randomly divided to receive hearing aids fitted based on either UAud or traditional audiometry. Three months after participants have started using their hearing aids, they will undergo a hearing in noise test with hearing aids to measure their speech-in-noise performance and answer the following questionnaires: SSQ12, the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids. The primary outcome is a comparison of the change in SSQ12 scores from baseline to follow-up between the two groups. Participants will undergo the user-operated ACT test of spectro-temporal modulation sensitivity as part of the UAud system. The ACT results will be compared with measures of speech intelligibility from the traditional audiometry session and follow-up measurements.Ethics and disseminationThe project was evaluated by the Research Ethics Committee of Southern Denmark and judged not to need approval. The findings will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberNCT05043207.

Project description:ObjectivesHearing loss prevalence is increasing, with an estimated 2.5 billion people affected globally by 2050. Scalable service delivery models using innovative technologies and task-shifting are World Health Organization priorities to improve access to hearing care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Smartphone-facilitated audiometry in the community using hearing aids covered by noise-attenuating ear cups ("in-situ") could support more accessible hearing care when provided by less trained individuals such as community health workers (CHWs). This study aimed to determine the validity of this method for potential hearing aid fitting. Study objectives included determining the maximum permissible ambient noise level (MPANL), inter-device reliability, clinical threshold accuracy, reliability, and performance in real-world settings.DesignExperiment 1: 15 normal-hearing adult participants were evaluated to determine MPANLs for circumaural Peltor 3M earcups covering Lexie Lumen hearing aids with smartphone-facilitated in-situ audiometry. MPANLs were calculated by measuring the difference in attenuation between thresholds obtained with standard headphones and in-situ hearing aids. Experiment 2: Pure-tone frequency and intensity output of 14 same-model Lexie Lumen hearing aids were measured to determine inter-device reliability. Pure-tone stimuli were measured and analyzed to determine sound pressure levels in decibels and pure-tone frequency when connected to a test box 2cc coupler. Experiment 3: 85 adult participants were tested in a sound booth to determine the accuracy of automated in-situ pure-tone audiometry (PTA) compared to clinical PTA (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000 Hz) facilitated by an audiologist. The first 39 participants were tested twice to determine test-retest reliability. Experiment 4: In a community setting, 144 adult participants were tested with automated in-situ audiometry facilitated by CHWs using a smartphone app. These participants were subsequently tested with automated mobile PTA (500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz). An additional 44 participants were tested twice to determine test-retest reliability.ResultsExperiment 1: MPANLs of the Peltor 3M earcup-covered hearing aids were higher than standard headphones across all frequencies, ranging from 24 to 47.3 dB SPL. Experiment 2: Inter-device performance reliability was high, with all inter-device differences across all intensities and frequencies less than 3 dB. Frequency output was consistent and differed less than 0.7% between devices. Experiments 3 and 4: 85.2% and 83.3% of automated in-situ audiometry thresholds were within 10 dB of thresholds obtained in the sound booth and in a community setting, respectively. Acceptable test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was evident across all thresholds obtained in a sound booth (ICC = 0.85 to 0.93) and in a community setting (ICC = 0.83 to 0.97).ConclusionsSmartphone-facilitated in-situ audiometry allows for reliable and valid community-based testing. A simple smartphone user interface and automated in-situ audiometry allow CHWs with minimal training to facilitate the testing. With the additional capability to program hearing aids via the smartphone after the initial test, this approach would have the potential to support widespread access to personalized hearing aid fittings facilitated by CHWs in low- and middle-income countries. This approach also supports self-fitting options based on in-situ thresholds, enabling testing and fitting via over the counter hearing aids.

Project description:BackgroundHearing loss is one of the most common disabilities worldwide and affects both individual and public health. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for hearing assessment, but it is often not available in many settings, given its high cost and demand for human resources. Smartphone-based audiometry may be equally effective and can improve access to adequate hearing evaluations.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the current evidence of the role of smartphone-based audiometry in hearing assessments and further explore the factors that influence its diagnostic accuracy.MethodsFive databases-PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus-were queried to identify original studies that examined the diagnostic accuracy of hearing loss measurement using smartphone-based devices with conventional PTA as a reference test. A bivariate random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. The factors associated with diagnostic accuracy were identified using a bivariate meta-regression model. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.ResultsIn all, 25 studies with a total of 4470 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for smartphone-based audiometry were 89% (95% CI 83%-93%), 93% (95% CI 87%-97%), and 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.97), respectively; the corresponding values for the smartphone-based speech recognition test were 91% (95% CI 86%-94%), 88% (95% CI 75%-94%), and 0.93 (95% CI 0.90-0.95), respectively. Meta-regression analysis revealed that patient age, equipment used, and the presence of soundproof booths were significantly related to diagnostic accuracy.ConclusionsWe have presented comprehensive evidence regarding the effectiveness of smartphone-based tests in diagnosing hearing loss. Smartphone-based audiometry may serve as an accurate and accessible approach to hearing evaluations, especially in settings where conventional PTA is unavailable.

Project description:BackgroundHearing impairment is the most frequent sensory deficit in humans, affecting more than 360 million people worldwide. In fact, hearing impairment is not merely a health problem, but it also has a great impact on the educational performance, economic income, and quality of life. Hearing impairment is therefore an important social concern.ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of self-perception, Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) questionnaire, free-field voice test, and smartphone-based audiometry as tests for screening moderate hearing impairment in older adults in China.MethodsIn this study, 41 patients were recruited through a single otology practice. All patients were older than 65 years. Patients with otorrhea and cognitive impairment were excluded. Moderate hearing impairment was defined as mean hearing thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz >40 dB hearing loss (pure-tone average > 40 dB hearing loss). All patients completed 5 hearing tests, namely, the self-perception test, HHIE-S questionnaire test, free-field voice test, smartphone-based audiometry test, and standard pure-tone audiometry by the same audiologist. We compared the results of these tests to the standard audiogram in the better-hearing ear.ResultsThe sensitivity and the specificity of the self-perception test were 0.58 (95% CI 0.29-0.84) and 0.34 (95% CI 0.19-0.54), respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the HHIE-S questionnaire test were 0.67 (95% CI 0.35-0.89) and 0.31 (95% CI 0.316-0.51), respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the free-field voice test were 0.83 (95% CI 0.51-0.97) and 0.41 (95% CI 0.24-0.61), respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the smartphone-based audiometry test were 0.92 (95% CI 0.60-0.99) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.56-0.89), respectively. Smartphone-based audiometry correctly diagnosed the presence of hearing loss with high sensitivity and high specificity.ConclusionsSmartphone-based audiometry may be a dependable screening test to rule out moderate hearing impairment in the older population.

Project description:Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious killer, and India accounts for 2.8 of the 10.4 million TB cases that occur each year, making it the highest TB burden country worldwide. Poor quality of TB care is a major driver of the epidemic in India. India's large private, unregulated sector manages over 50% of the TB patients, with studies showing suboptimal diagnosis and treatment in the private sector. Better education of doctors using mobile applications (apps) is a possible solution. While India has seen an explosion of mobile phone services, and while the use of mobile health interventions has been gaining interest, little is known about mHealth around tuberculosis in India.Our study aimed to understand the user experience and acceptability of a smartphone application, LearnTB, amongst private sector academic clinicians in India. This study was conducted amongst 101 clinicians at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India. The user experience of participants (part 1) and acceptability (part 2) were evaluated with the use of two valid, English, paper-based questionnaires. The first questionnaire was based on the System Usability Scale (SUS); the second questionnaire was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data were collected during February and March 2017 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression as well as logistic regression analysis.A response rate of 99% was achieved; 100 participants responded to the second questionnaire and 100% of the participants responded to the first questionnaire. User experience was very high [mean SUS score =94.4 (92.07-96.76)]. Perceived usefulness (PU) was significantly correlated to intention to use (IU) (r=0.707, P<0.0001), and perceived ease of use (PEU) was significantly correlated to PU (r=0.466, P<0.0001). Path analysis confirmed the direct relationship between PU and IU (0.936, P<0.0001), and the indirect relationship between PEU and IU (0.5102, P<0.0001). Logistic regression analysis helped target items strongly influencing IU, such as "The use of the LearnTB application is compatible with my work habits" [OR =3.20 (1.04-9.84), P=0.004] and "The use of the LearnTB application could promote good clinical practice" [OR =5.23 (1.35-20.29); P=0.016].The first part of the study indicated high user experience of the LearnTB application. The TAM questionnaire (second part) explained a significant portion of the variance in clinicians' IU the LearnTB application. The PU of the application has the highest impact on the clinicians' IU the Learn TB application. This study provides a preliminary analysis of mobile health interventions for tuberculosis in India, and emphasizes the need for future research in this domain.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Brain in Hand is a smartphone application (app) that allows users to create structured diaries with problems and solutions, attach reminders, record task completion and has a symptom monitoring system. Brain in Hand was designed to support people with psychological problems, and encourage behaviour monitoring and change. The aim of this paper is to describe the process of exploring the barriers and enablers for the uptake and use of Brain in Hand in clinical practice, identify potential adaptations of the app for use with people with acquired brain injury (ABI), and determine whether the behaviour change wheel can be used as a model for engagement. METHODS:We identified stakeholders: ABI survivors and carers, National Health Service and private healthcare professionals, and engaged with them via focus groups, conference presentations, small group discussions, and through questionnaires. The results were evaluated using the behaviour change wheel and descriptive statistics of questionnaire responses. RESULTS:We engaged with 20 ABI survivors, 5 carers, 25 professionals, 41 questionnaires were completed by stakeholders. Comments made during group discussions were supported by questionnaire results. Enablers included smartphone competency (capability), personalisation of app (opportunity), and identifying perceived need (motivation). Barriers included a physical and cognitive inability to use smartphone (capability), potential cost and reliability of technology (opportunity), and no desire to use technology or change from existing strategies (motivation). The stakeholders identified potential uses and changes to the app, which were not easily mapped onto the behaviour change wheel, e.g. monitoring fatigue levels, method of logging task completion, and editing the diary on their smartphone. CONCLUSIONS:The study identified that both ABI survivors and therapists could see a use for Brain in Hand, but wanted users to be able to personalise it themselves to address individual user needs, e.g. monitoring activity levels. The behaviour change wheel is a useful tool when designing and evaluating engagement activities as it addresses most aspects of implementation, however additional categories may be needed to explore the specific features of assistive technology interventions, e.g. technical functions.

Dataset Information

AMTASTM and user-operated smartphone research application audiometry-An evaluation study.

Objective

Design

Study sample

Results

Conclusion

Publications

AMTASTM and user-operated smartphone research application audiometry-An evaluation study.

Similar Datasets

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