Melo IMM, Silva ARX, Camargo R, Cavalcanti HG, Ferrari DV, Taveira KVM, Balen SA. Accuracy of smartphone-based hearing screening tests: a systematic review.
Codas 2022;
34:e20200380. [PMID:
35239828 PMCID:
PMC9769434 DOI:
10.1590/2317-1782/20212020380]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
To verify the accuracy of smartphone apps to identify hearing loss.
RESEARCH STRATEGIES
A systematic review followed the PRISMA-DATA checklist. The search strategies were applied across four databases (Lilacs, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis).
SELECTION CRITERIA
The acronym PIRD was used in review. This included populations of any gender and all age groups. The Index test is the smartphone-based hearing screening test; the Reference test is the pure-tone audiometry, which is considered the gold reference for hearing diagnostics; the diagnosis was performed via validity data (sensitivity and specificity) to identify hearing loss and diagnostic studies.
DATA ANALYSIS
Two reviewers selected the studies in a two-step process. The risk of bias was assessed according to the criteria of the QUADAS-2.
RESULTS
Of 1395 articles, 104 articles were eligible for full-text reading and 17 were included. Only four met all criteria for methodological quality. All of the included studies were published in English between 2015 and 2020. The applications Digits-in noise Test (5 articles), uHear (4 articles), HearScreen (2 articles), hearTest (2 articles) and Hearing Test (2 articles) were the most studied. All this application showed sensitivity and specificity values between 75 and 100%. The other applications were EarScale, uHearing Test, Free field hearing (FFH) and Free Hearing Test.
CONCLUSION
uHear, Digit-in-Noise Test, HearTest and HearScreen have shown significant values of sensitivity and specificity and can be considered as the most accurate methods for screening of hearing impairment.
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