New Age Hearing Testing at your Fingertips: Shravana Mitra App

Jaishree Pitchaimani; Rakesh Bs; Bharathi Mb; Sudarshan Patil Kulkarni; Shashidhar R; Sumukh Ka Moudgalya; Mahendhar Hn; Prajwal Hs

doi:10.1007/s12070-023-04157-7

New Age Hearing Testing at your Fingertips: Shravana Mitra App

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Feb;76(1):322-328. doi: 10.1007/s12070-023-04157-7. Epub 2023 Aug 31.

Authors

Jaishree Pitchaimani¹, Rakesh Bs¹, Bharathi Mb¹, Sudarshan Patil Kulkarni², Shashidhar R², Sumukh Ka Moudgalya², Mahendhar Hn², Prajwal Hs²

Affiliations

¹ Department of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, 570004 Karnataka India.
² Department of Electronics & Communication, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, JSS Science and Technology University (JSSSTU), Mysuru, 570006 Karnataka India.

PMID: 38440607
PMCID: PMC10908892 (available on 2025-02-01)
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04157-7

Abstract

Introduction: WHO estimated the prevalence of disabling hearing loss is 5% of the world population (430 million). People with a risk of hearing loss from noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, and comorbidities need regular hearing assessments. It is done by pure tone audiometry (PTA), requiring a skilled audiologist, special equipment, and a soundproof room. Modern technologies can help in overcoming these barriers. This study aimed to fill the lacuna by developing a new android-based application "Shravana Mitra" (Hearing companion) with features of both air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) testing.

Objectives: To develop, corroborate and compare smartphone application-based audiometry with PTA.

Methodology: This study was done in three phases -(i) development of a mobile application, (ii) app validation in healthy individuals (iii) testing and comparison of results with PTA in individuals visiting OPD. The third phase was done as a cross-sectional observational study including 780 individuals visiting OPD of 10-60 years of age.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 32.89 years with female preponderance (57%). In AC testing, 83% of the pure tone average of the mobile application was within 5 dB of PTA thresholds and 99% was within 10 dB and for BC testing, 81% was within 5 dB of PTA thresholds and 98% within 10 dB.

Conclusion: Our user-friendly mobile application- Shravana Mitra is the first Indian application available in the google play store with both AC & BC testing, multiple language options and accuracy similar to PTA. Thus, it can be used as the best hearing screening tool in camps, high-risk individuals, or any healthcare setup requiring initial hearing assessment.

Keywords: Air conduction; Android application audiometry; Bone conduction; PTA; Sscreening tool.

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