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10/24/2016  |   9:10 AM - 10:10 AM   |  BGPOP Building 402/403/404

Pure-tone Audiometry Outside a Sound Booth Using Earphone Attenuation, Integrated Noise Monitoring, and Automation

Objective: Accessibility of audiometry is hindered by the cost of sound booths and shortage of hearing health personnel. This study investigated the validity of an automated mobile diagnostic audiometer with increased attenuation and real-time noise monitoring for clinical testing outside a sound booth. Design: Attenuation characteristics and reference ambient noise levels for the computer-based audiometer (KUDUwave) was evaluated alongside the validity of environmental noise monitoring. Clinical validity was determined by comparing air-conduction and bone-conduction thresholds obtained inside and outside the sound booth. Study Sample: Twenty-three normal-hearing subjects (age range, 20 to 75 years; average age 35.5), and a subgroup of 11 subjects to establish test-retest reliability. Results: Improved passive attenuation and valid environmental noise monitoring was demonstrated. Clinically, air-conduction thresholds inside and outside the sound booth, corresponded within 5 dB or less > 90% of instances (mean absolute difference 3.3 ± 3.2 SD). Bone conduction thresholds corresponded within 5 dB or less in 80% of comparisons between test environments, with a mean absolute difference of 4.6 dB (3.7 SD). Threshold differences were not statistically significant. Mean absolute test-retest differences outside the sound booth was similar to those in the booth. Conclusion: Diagnostic pure-tone audiometry outside a sound booth, using automated testing, improved passive attenuation, and real-time environmental noise monitoring demonstrated reliable hearing assessments.

• Accessibilityand validity of audiometry without sound booth
• Attenuation characteristics
• Ambient noise levels and testing without a booth

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Carmen Esterhuizen (POC), carmen@emoyo.net;

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Dirk Koekemoer (Primary Presenter), eMoyo, dirk@emoyo.net;
The inventor of the KUDUwave Audiometer, Dirk Koekemoer, has many years of experience in health informatics as a General Practitioner, programmer, innovator and consultant to medical device and software companies. Dirk is extensively involved in the development of medical devices and software tools to automate, speed up and improve the quality of primary health care examinations in a society with too little health care resources. Dr Dirk Koekemoer is earned his MBChB from the University of Pretoria and enrolled at UNISA to obtain his BSc in Computer Science.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.