Online digital audiometry vs. conventional audiometry: a multi-centre comparative clinical study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Koalys audiometric setup: Headset, bone vibrator and patient response button are connected to the laptop through a regular USB Hub. Software is accessible thanks to a web browser.

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of study participants.

Demographic characteristics	n = 41
Mean age (years)	74.3 (SD = 14.3)
Sex ratio	23 female 18 male
Hearing ability^a	n (%):
Normal	2 (4.9%)
Mild	10 (24.4%)
Moderate	28 (68.3%)
Severe	1 (2.4%)

^aHearing ability was classified based on the pure tone average (500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz) of the better hearing ear.

Figure 2. (A) Mean differences in air conduction thresholds by frequency between online digital audiometer and conventional audiometry, with 95% confidence intervals. (B) Mean differences in bone conduction thresholds by frequency between online digital audiometer and conventional audiometry, with 95% confidence intervals.

Table 2. Percentage agreement between online digital audiometer and conventional audiometer (percent agreement within 5 dBL HL and 10 dB HL, including 95% confidence interval, CI).

	250 Hz	500 Hz	1000 Hz	2000Hz	3000 Hz	4000 Hz	6000 Hz	8000 Hz
Air conduction
% within 5 dB	96.3%	100%	100%	100%	100%	97.6%	87.7%	87.5%
Lower CI	89.8%	95.5%	95.5%	95.5%	95.4%	91.5%	78.7%	78.5%
Upper CI	98.7%	100%	100%	100%	100%	99.3%	93.2%	93.1%
% within 10 dB	98.8%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	96.3%	97.5%
Lower CI	93.4%	95.5%	95.5%	95.5%	95.4%	95.5%	89.7%	91.3%
Upper CI	99.8%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	98.7%	99.3%
Bone conduction
% within 5 dB	97.2%	95.9%	93.2%	97.2%	95.1%	77.1%
Lower CI	90.3%	88.6%	84.9%	90.4%	86.5%	66.0%
Upper CI	99.2%	98.6%	97.0%	99.2%	98.3%	85.4%
% within 10 dB	100%	97.3%	100%	100%	100%	97.1%
Lower CI	94.9%	90.5%	95.0%	94.9%	94.1%	90.2%
Upper CI	100%	99.2%	100%	100%	100%	99.2%