Identification of Hearing Loss in Individuals With Cognitive Impairment Using Portable Tablet Audiometer

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a tablet-based portable audiometer to identify hearing loss in a cognitively impaired population. Method In this study, we used a retrospective chart review of an outpatient memory clinic. During a quality initiative, older adult ( M age = 74.6) patients ( n = 91) completed pure-tone hearing testing (0.5–4 kHz) via automated self-administration and technician-administered threshold testing (gold standard) on a tablet-based audiometer. Results Technician-administered auditory threshold testing was successfully conducted in all patients. A total of 54 of the 91 patients (59%) also had hearing thresholds reliably obtained with automated self-administration. In bivariate analyses, older age, lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, lower education, male sex, and higher degree of hearing impairment were associated with higher odds of having an unreliable self-administered test defined as multiple recorded false positives at 2 or more test frequencies. In multivariable analysis, lower MMSE scores and poorer hearing were significantly associated with higher odds of having an unreliable self-administered test. Conclusion Technician-administered hearing threshold testing using a portable, tablet-based audiometer can be successfully administered to patients with cognitive impairment. Reliability of automated self-administration is limited in patients with lower MMSE scores.