Development and evaluation of a novel user-operated slider-based audiometry method.

Objective: To evaluate a novel user-operated audiometry method allowing users full control in determining their pure-tone hearing thresholds.

Design: Comparative study. Participants were recruited from a hearing clinic after undergoing manual audiometry (six frequencies). They then performed test-retests of a new test (slider audiometry, eight frequencies) and completed the System Usability Scale questionnaire.

Study sample: 37 adult participants, including 30 hearing-impaired and seven normal-hearing individuals.

Results: Mean (SD) threshold differences for octave frequencies between 250 to 2000 Hz between manual and slider audiometry ranged from -7.8 (6.6) to -5.7 (6.5) dB and were significant. For 4000 and 8000 Hz mean differences were -0.3 (8.4) and 0.0 (9.7) dB and insignificant. Standard deviations ranged from 6.5 to 9.7 dB across six tested frequencies. Slider test-retest mean threshold differences ranged from -1.4 (4.7) to 0.3 (6.0) dB across eight tested frequencies, with standard deviations ranging from 4.1 to 8.5 dB. The average usability score for the slider audiometry was 88.3.

Conclusion: When compared to manual audiometry, the slider audiometry demonstrated validity at 4000 and 8000 Hz but found significantly lower thresholds for octave frequencies between 250 to 2000 Hz. Test-retests of the new method revealed small mean differences and acceptable SDs.