Academic Journal
Apple Hearing Test Feature for the AirPods Pro 2: Accuracy, Reliability, and Time-Efficiency.
| Τίτλος: | Apple Hearing Test Feature for the AirPods Pro 2: Accuracy, Reliability, and Time-Efficiency. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Kruger M; Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Virtual Hearing Lab, a Collaborative initiative between the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.; Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa., Manchaiah V; Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Virtual Hearing Lab, a Collaborative initiative between the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.; Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.; UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital (UCHealth), Aurora, Colorado, USA.; Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India., Swanepoel W; Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Virtual Hearing Lab, a Collaborative initiative between the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.; Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA. |
| Πηγή: | Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery [Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg] 2026 Jun; Vol. 174 (6), pp. 1484-1493. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 07. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Validation Study |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8508176 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1097-6817 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01945998 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2023- : [Oxford] : Wiley Original Publication: [Rochester, Minn.] : The Academy, [c1981- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Hearing Loss*/diagnosis , Audiometry, Pure-Tone*, Humans ; Female ; Reproducibility of Results ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Male ; Time Factors ; Adult ; Auditory Acuity ; Auditory Threshold |
| Περίληψη: | Objective: To evaluate the accuracy, test-retest reliability, and time-efficiency of Apple's Hearing Test Feature (HTF) compared to reference standard pure-tone audiometry (PTA). Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study. Setting: Single-center study at a university clinic. PTA was performed in a sound-treated booth. HTF testing occurred in a quiet room. Methods: A sample of 25 adults (mean age 50.1 years [SD 14.2]; 68% female) with self-reported mild-to-moderate hearing loss participated. Each contributed 16 thresholds, yielding 400 comparisons. Participants underwent PTA by an audiologist, followed by two independent HTF assessments (start and end of session) using Apple AirPods Pro 2 paired with an iPhone 13. Outcomes included threshold accuracy versus PTA, test-retest reliability, and test duration. Results: Across 400 comparisons, 86.5% of HTF thresholds were within 10 dB HL of PTA. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) values ranged from 3.3 to 7.9 dB HL (left ear) and 5.8 to 9.7 dB HL (right ear), meeting minimally acceptable accuracy (≤10 dB HL). Test-retest was reliable, 84.1% of thresholds within 5 dB HL and 96.6% within 10 dB HL. Desired reliability (≤6 dB HL) was met at all frequencies except 250 Hz (left ear), which met minimum acceptable level. HTF was significantly faster (median 5.5 minutes) than PTA (10.0 minutes; P < .001). Conclusion: Apple's HTF demonstrated clinically acceptable accuracy and reliability, with improved time-efficiency compared to PTA. Findings support its potential for consumer-led hearing monitoring and OTC hearing aid self-fitting. Further research should assess inter-device reliability and integration with Apple's Hearing Aid Feature. (© 2026 The Author(s). Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.) |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Apple Hearing Test Feature; hearing aids; hearing loss; mobile audiometry; over‐the‐counter |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260307 Date Completed: 20260710 Latest Revision: 20260710 |
| Update Code: | 20260711 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/ohn.70194 |
| PMID: | 41793292 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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