Crucial elements of a virtual hearing clinic on mobile devices-psychophysics, diagnostic parameter estimation and validation

Xu, Chen (2025) Crucial elements of a virtual hearing clinic on mobile devices-psychophysics, diagnostic parameter estimation and validation , Oldenburg, Germany. University of Oldenburg Press (UOLP), 148pp.

Record type: Book

Abstract

Smartphone-based listening tests have expanded the reach of traditional laboratory-based assessments, offering convenient, low-threshold access to hearing evaluations and early diagnostics of hearing loss. Despite these advantages, such tests often suffer from a lack of controlled environments, absence of test supervisors, uncalibrated devices, and inattentive participants, resulting in potential inaccuracies and unreliable outcomes. This thesis explores the potential of smartphone-based hearing tests as accessible, scalable tools for audiological assessment outside clinical environments. Focusing on pure-tone audiometry and categorical loudness scaling, it examines how participant attention, audiologist supervision, and ambient noise affect test outcomes. The findings reveal that when users remain attentive and background noise is minimized, unsupervised mobile-based assessments yield results comparable to standard clinical procedures. These insights highlight the validity, reliability, and efficiency of smartphone-based hearing tests and support their broader use in early hearing loss detection and hearing care delivery, particularly in underserved settings.

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