Evaluating the validity and efficiency of tablet audiometry in school-age children

Tablet-based automated audiometry offers a portable alternative to traditional audiometry. The limited research available (e.g., Rourke et al., 2016) supports the clinical use of automated audiometry for pediatric hearing screenings, but its accuracy in children and efficiency outside of clinical environments is undetermined. This study’s objective is to evaluate the validity and efficiency of automated audiometry in school-age children. This initial phase aimed to establish its validity in a clinical setting. Hearing thresholds for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz were collected in children ages 6–12 years old using standard audiometry and an iPad app automated audiometry in a sound-proof booth. Tympanometry, acoustic reflex thresholds, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were administered to examine peripheral hearing function. Preliminary results of 16 children show no significant difference between the two test durations. Automated audiometry thresholds were within 5 dB of the standard audiometry t...