Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
PLoS One. 2023 Mar 28;18(3):e0283519. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283519. eCollection 2023.
The purpose of this study was to verify the accuracy of the web-based audiometer HEARZAP in determining hearing thresholds for both air and bone conduction.
Using a cross-sectional validation design, the web-based audiometer was compared to a gold standard audiometer. Participants in the study totaled 50 (100 ears), of which 25 (50 ears) had normal hearing sensitivity and 25 (50 ears) had various types and degrees of hearing loss. All subjects underwent pure tone audiometry, including air and bone conduction thresholds, using the web-based and gold standard audiometers in a random order. A pause between the two tests was allowed if the patient felt comfortable. The testing for the web-based audiometer and gold standard audiometer was done by two different audiologists with similar qualifications in order to eliminate tester bias. Both the procedures were performed in a sound treated room.
For air conduction thresholds and bone conduction thresholds, respectively, the mean discrepancies between the web-based audiometer and the gold standard audiometer were 1.22 dB HL (SD = 4.61) and 0.8 dB HL (SD = 4.1). The ICC for air conduction thresholds between the two techniques was 0.94 and for the bone conduction thresholds was 0.91. The Bland Altman plots likewise indicated excellent reliability between the two measurements, with the mean difference between the HEARZAP and the gold standard audiometry falling within the top and lower limits of agreement.
The web-based audiometry version of HEARZAP produced precise findings for hearing thresholds that were comparable to those obtained from an established gold standard audiometer. HEARZAP, has the potential to support multi-clinic functionality and enhance service access.
本研究旨在验证基于网络的听力计 HEARZAP 在确定空气和骨传导听力阈值方面的准确性。
采用横断面验证设计，将基于网络的听力计与金标准听力计进行比较。研究对象总计 50 人（100 耳），其中 25 人（50 耳）听力正常，25 人（50 耳）有各种类型和程度的听力损失。所有受试者均接受纯音听力测试，包括空气和骨传导阈值，使用基于网络和金标准听力计以随机顺序进行。如果患者感到舒适，可以在两次测试之间暂停。为了消除测试者偏差，由两位具有相似资质的不同听力学家对基于网络的听力计和金标准听力计进行测试。这两种程序均在隔音室内进行。
分别为空气传导阈值和骨传导阈值，基于网络的听力计和金标准听力计之间的平均差异为 1.22dBHL（SD=4.61）和 0.8dBHL（SD=4.1）。两种技术之间的空气传导阈值的 ICC 为 0.94，骨传导阈值的 ICC 为 0.91。Bland-Altman 图同样表明两种测量之间具有极好的可靠性，HEARZAP 与金标准听力计之间的平均差异落在一致性界限的上限和下限内。
基于网络的听力计版 HEARZAP 产生的听力阈值结果精确，与既定的金标准听力计相当。HEARZAP 有可能支持多诊所功能并增强服务可及性。
