Jeffrey Yeung*, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada Hedyeh Javidnia, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada Sophie Heley, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada Yves Beauregard, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada Sandra Champagne, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada Matthew Bromwich*, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada Track: Research Presentation Topic: Mobile & Tablet Health Applications Presentation Type: Oral presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Mermaid Room: Room 3 - Upper River Room Date: 2013-09-23 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Background: The timely diagnosis and treatment of acquired hearing loss in the pediatric population has significant implications for a child's development. Audiological assessment in children, however, carries both technological and logistical challenges. Typically, specialized methods (such as play audiometry) are required to maintain the child’s attention and this can be costly. The proliferation of tablet computing enables the development of novel diagnostic applications which capitalize on the intuitive user-interface and address the shortcomings of existing diagnostic tools. We designed a novel, interactive game for the Apple® iPad® that tests warble-tone thresholds. This tablet play audiometer is professionally calibrated to meet ANSI standards and is the first of its kind. Its design specifically addresses the difficulties in performing audiometric testing in children and it does so at a fraction of the cost of traditional audiometric devices.

Objective: To validate the tablet play audiometer's ability to quantify warble-tone thresholds in clinical setting as well as its ability to screen for hearing loss.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized study, the efficacy of this tool was compared to standard play audiometry. 85 consecutive patients presenting to the Audiology Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (ages 3 and older) were recruited into this study. Using the tablet audiometer, hearing was evaluated both in clinical and screening scenarios. Thresholds were compared to gold standard measurements taken using standard play audiometry.

Outcome Measure: Warble-tone thresholds obtained by both tablet and traditional audiometry.

Results: The majority of children in this age group were capable of completing an audiologic assessment using the tablet computer. The data demonstrate no statistically significant difference between warble-tone thresholds obtained by tablet and traditional audiometry (p=0.29). Moreover, the tablet audiometer demonstrates strong sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value in both clinical and screening scenarios.

Conclusion: The tablet audiometer is a valid and sensitive instrument for screening and assessment of warble-tone thresholds in children.