Hearing screening using the uHear™ smartphone-based app: reproducibility of results from two response modes
Triagem auditiva com o aplicativo para dispositivos móveis uHear™: reprodutibilidade dos resultados utilizando dois diferentes modos de resposta
Marta Luiza Santana da Cunha; Márcia da Silva Lopes; Tatiane Costa Meira; Ana Paula Corona
Abstract
Purpose
Estimate the reproducibility of hearing screening results using the uHear™ smartphone-based app in two response modes: self-test response and test-operator.
Methods
Reliability study conducted with 65 individuals aged ≥18 years assisted at the Speech-language and Hearing Therapy clinic of a public higher-education institution. Hearing screening was conducted by a single researcher using the uHear app and earbud headphones in a soundproof booth. Participants responded to sound stimuli in both self-test response mode and test-operator mode. The order in which these two uHear test modes were applied was altered according to the entrance of each participant in the study. The correspondence between the hearing thresholds obtained from each response mode was analyzed and their Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was estimated.
Results
A correspondence of ±5 dBHL >75% was observed between these hearing thresholds. The ICC values showed excellent agreement between the two response modes at all frequencies >40 dBHL tested.
Conclusion
The two hearing screening response modes using the uHear app presented high reproducibility, suggesting that the test-operator mode is a viable alternative when the self-test response mode is not recommended.
Keywords
Resumo
Objetivo
Estimar a reprodutibilidade dos resultados da triagem auditiva com o aplicativo uHear, utilizando dois diferentes modos de resposta, o modo autoaplicado e o modo com intermediação do pesquisador.
Método
Estudo de confiabilidade realizado com 65 indivíduos, maiores de 18 anos, que compareceram à clínica escola de Fonoaudiologia de uma instituição pública de ensino superior. A triagem auditiva foi realizada com o aplicativo uHear, em cabina acústica, utilizando fone intra-auricular e conduzida sempre pelo mesmo pesquisador. Os participantes responderam ao estímulo sonoro de maneira autoaplicada e com intermediação do pesquisador. A ordem de realização dos dois modos de resposta ao aplicativo uHear foi alternada de acordo com a entrada do participante no estudo. Foi analisada a correspondência entre os limiares auditivos obtidos com os dois modos de resposta, bem como estimado o Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (ICC).
Resultados
Verificou-se uma correspondência de ± 5 dBNA superior a 75% entre os limiares auditivos obtidos nos dois modos de resposta. O ICC revelou concordância excelente entre os dois modos de resposta, em todas as frequências testadas, para intensidades superiores a 40 dBNA.
Conclusão
Os dois modos de resposta à triagem auditiva com o aplicativo uHear apresentam elevada reprodutibilidade, o que permite indicar o modo de resposta com intermediação do pesquisador como uma alternativa viável quando o modo autoaplicado não for recomendado.
Palavras-chave
References
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