How we do it: The Dutch functional hearing-screening tests by telephone and internet

Clin Otolaryngol. 2006 Oct;31(5):436-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2006.01195.x.

Abstract

Keypoints * The Dutch National Hearing Test is a reliable and very successful functional hearing-screening test by telephone. An internet version of the National Hearing Test was also implemented. * The National Hearing Test is a fully automatic adaptive speech-in-noise test that uses digit-triplets as speech material. The result of the test is given as 'good,''insufficient,' or 'poor.' * The test by telephone performs better in reaching older subjects, who are more likely to suffer from hearing loss, than the test by internet. * More than 50% of the participants who scored 'insufficient' or 'poor' followed the recommendation to visit a GP, hearing-aid dispenser, ENT specialist or Audiological Center. * The tests contribute to increase the identification and treatment of older hearing-impaired subjects.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Loss / epidemiology
  • Hearing Loss / physiopathology
  • Hearing Tests / methods*
  • Humans
  • Internet* / statistics & numerical data
  • Linear Models
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mass Screening*
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Noise
  • Speech Reception Threshold Test / methods
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Telephone* / statistics & numerical data