Using tablet-based technology to deliver time-efficient ototoxicity monitoring

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this article is to highlight mobile technology that is not yet standard of care but could be considered for use in an ototoxicity monitoring programme (OMP) as an adjunct to traditional audiometric testing. Current guidelines for ototoxicity monitoring include extensive test protocols performed by an audiologist in an audiometric booth. This approach is comprehensive, but it may be taxing for patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses and cost prohibitive if it requires serial clinical appointments. With the use of mobile technology, testing outside of the confines of the audiometric booth may be possible, which could create more efficient and less burdensome OMPs. Design: A non-systematic review of new OMP technology was performed. Experts were canvassed regarding the impact of new technology on OMPs. Study sample: OMP devices and technologies that are commercially available and discussed in the literature. Results: The benefits and limitations of portable, tablet-based technology that can be deployed for efficient ototoxicity monitoring are discussed. Conclusions: New mobile technology has the potential to influence the development and implementation of OMPs and lower barriers to patient access by providing time efficient, portable and self-administered testing options for use in the clinic and in the patient’s home.

Key Words:

• Hearing conservation/hearing loss prevention
• instrumentation
• otoacoustic emissions
• tele-audiology/tele-health

Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was partially provided by U.S. Army Public Health Command in support of the Army Hearing Program, and by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D) Service (Grant #C0239R). This research was also supported in part by an appointment to the Postgraduate Research Participation Program at the Army Public Health Center (Provisional) administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the APHC (Prov). Development of the Creare wireless audiometer was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44DC012861 to Creare LLC.

Declaration of interest

Dr. Odile Clavier is an employee of Creare LLC. Edare Inc. is an affiliate of Creare LLC, with common ownership. Edare manufactures the “Creare wireless audiometers” currently commercially available. Dawn Konrad-Martin, Marilyn Dille, Samuel Gordon were employees of the U.S. Government during the period of time when this manuscript was written. The work was prepared as part of their official government duties and no revenue is being received for this intellectual property.

The opinions and assertions presented are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as necessarily reflecting the views of the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Government. Title 17 U.S.C. §105 provides that ‘Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government.’ Title 17 U.S.C. §101 defines a U.S. Government work as a work prepared by a military service member or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties. The contents of this publication do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defence or the United States Government.