Validation of a Commercially Available Hearing Testing Application for Identification of Conductive Hearing Loss

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether the Mimi Hearing Test application's two testing paradigms, pure-tone threshold (PTT) and masked threshold (MT) testing, can be used together to identify the presence of conductive hearing loss. Design: The Mimi Hearing Test application (app) was used to measure PTTs (PTT paradigm) and masked thresholds scores (MT paradigm) via air conduction in 25 adult listeners (two males, 25 females, age range: 18–37 years, M = 24, SD = 4.37) with normal hearing sensitivity as established by standard audiometry. The PTT module yields information about air-conduction hearing acuity, whereas the MT module reflects sharpness of auditory tuning. Both app-based and standard audiometry measurements were obtained in participants in unoccluded and occluded test conditions. In the occluded test condition, audiometry was completed with LYSIAN Ultra soft foam ear plugs (noise-reduction rating: 31 dB) situated in the ear canal to simulate a conductive hearing loss. Results: With the exception of the 2-kHz threshold in the left ear for one participant (30 dB HL), 100% of the app-based air-conduction PTTs occurred within 10 dB of normal hearing sensitivity (15 dB HL) in the unoccluded condition. Additionally, all participants returned excellent scores on the MT test in the unoccluded condition. In the occluded condition simulating conductive hearing loss, app-based air-conduction PTTs were elevated, while scores on the MT test generally remained excellent or good . Conclusions: While normal hearing sensitivity is associated with normal air-conduction thresholds and sharp frequency selectivity, conductive hearing loss is known to result in elevated air-conduction thresholds while retaining sharp frequency selectivity. Outcomes on the PTT and MT modules in the unoccluded and occluded conditions were consistent with this expectation, suggesting that the Mimi Hearing Test app has the potential to identify conductive hearing loss in an adult population.