Digital therapeutics in hearing healthcare

Abstract

Digital therapeutics (DTx) in hearing research have emerged as a new category of therapies that provide evidence-based intervention via digital means, such as software, smartphone apps, or websites. However, as they are relatively new, yet not well-established. In this presentation, we review DTx technologies in hearing research fields, focusing on three categories: prevention and diagnosis, aid (assistance), and curing (digital medicine). We observed that the majority of DTx systems require interactions with users (or patients) without clinical professionals’ direct support to obtain or collect medical evidence; this makes training (or education) features crucial to the success of the therapy. In this view, we will discuss the education or training functions of the current DTx and their contribution and purposes. The impact of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) on DTx in hearing research is being explored, along with discussions about the future of DTx concerning AI integration. We believe that this work will contribute to a better understanding of the current and future DTx technological advancements, shedding light on the field of hearing research, in particular.