The cell phone vibration test: A telemedicine substitute for the tuning fork test.
Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2021;
6:1175-1181. [PMID:
34667863 PMCID:
PMC8513443 DOI:
10.1002/lio2.665]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
An at home-test for differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss remains elusive. Our goal was to validate the novel cell-phone vibration test (CPVT) against the Weber tuning fork test (WTFT) and to assess if the CPVT can be self-administered by patients reliably.
STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional.
METHODS
The CPVT involves placement of a vibrating cellphone on the center of the forehead to determine which ear perceives the sound louder. 40 consecutive adult patients with an audiogram within 6 months and no report of recent hearing changes were recruited. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who were examined by the provider with the CPVT and WTFT using various tuning forks (256, 512, and 1024 Hz). Group 2 consisted of an additional 20 patients who received instructions on self-administering the CPVT. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess the strength of concordance between the CPVT, WTFT, and audiometric findings for group 1 and between patient self-administered and provider administered CPVT and WTFT for group 2.
RESULTS
Concordance between CPVT and WTFT in the entire cohort was substantial (Kappa coefficient: 0.81 for 256 Hz, 0.73 for 512 Hz, and 0.62 for 1024 Hz) with similar concordances between actual and expected results based on audiogram (Kappa coefficient: 0.52 for CPVT and 0.52 for WTFT). Concordance between patient-administered and provider-administered CPVT showed almost perfect agreement (Kappa coefficient: 0.92).
CONCLUSIONS
The CPVT provides consistent results when compared to a formal WTFT and can be reliably self-administered by patients with appropriate instructions.Level of evidence: 4.
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