Toward accessible hearing care: A systematic review of low-cost portable otoacoustic emission devices and measurement advances.
Hassan Almaeeni, Suna Ro, Walter D Leon-Salas et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined portable, low-cost otoacoustic emission (OAE) systems, including smartphone-connected probes, wireless earbuds, and prototype devices, for cochlear assessment. Searches identified seven eligible studies; results were synthesized narratively because methods and outcomes varied. In three studies comparing diagnostic classification with clinical hearing-status information, reported sensitivity was 100% and specificity ranged from 88.0% to 89.7%. However, several systems had only limited feasibility, simulation, or artificial-ear testing, without independent clinical diagnostic validation. The review concludes that these technologies are promising but require further technical standardization and clinical validation before they can reliably replace established systems.
Key findings
- Three studies reporting diagnostic classification against clinical hearing-status information found 100% sensitivity and 88.0%-89.7% specificity.
- Seven studies evaluated portable or low-cost OAE platforms, including smartphone-connected probes, wireless earbuds, and single-transducer prototypes.
- Several systems were assessed only in small feasibility studies, normal-hearing samples, simulations, or artificial-ear testing, without independent clinical diagnostic validation.
Why it matters
Portable, lower-cost OAE systems could make non-invasive cochlear assessment more accessible where conventional equipment is expensive or difficult to deploy. The review also shows that promising diagnostic results from a small subset of studies do not establish dependable performance across settings. Calibration, noise characterization, and validation against appropriate clinical reference standards are important to determine whether these devices can support reliable assessment.
What to keep in mind
Only seven studies met eligibility criteria, and methodological and outcome heterogeneity precluded quantitative synthesis. Several systems lacked independent clinical diagnostic validation.