Hearing Vital Signs: Mobile Audiometry in the Emergency Department for Evaluation of Sudden Hearing Loss. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lubner, Rory J.; Barbarite, Eric; Kondamuri, Neil; Knoll, Renata M.; Ota, H. Gregory; Lewis, Rebecca M.; Franck, Kevin; Remenschneider, Aaron K.; Kozin, Elliott D.
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 163:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 1025
• Page End: 1028
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: audiometry -- mobile audiometry -- sudden sensorineural hearing loss -- hearing loss -- idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599820935420
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Emergency departments (EDs) are a common location for patients to present with sudden hearing loss (SHL). Unfortunately, high-quality, rapid quantitative measurement of hearing loss is challenging. Herein, we aim to evaluate the accuracy of tablet-based audiometry in patients complaining of SHL. Prospective tablet-based testing was completed in the ED in patients complaining of SHL. Air conduction thresholds (ACTs) obtained via tablet-based audiometry were compared to same-day measurements with a clinical-grade audiometer. Hearing loss (HL) was defined as >20 dB ACT for any frequency. In participant-level analysis, 30+ dB HL in 3 consecutive frequencies was used to define SHL. In the ED, mobile audiogram ACTs were within 5 dB (77%) and 10 dB (89.6%) of those determined by conventional audiometry. The sensitivity and specificity for mobile audiometry to detect 3 or more consecutive thresholds with 30+ dB HL were 100% and 62.5%, respectively. Findings have implications for increasing access to high-quality audiometry.