Online Auditory Abilities Screening in Elderly: Initial Considerations

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the results of AudBility's online screening in the elderly to assess its viability. Methodology. The study included 40 elderly participants (mean age 67.4 years). They underwent online AudBility screening and completed a self-assessment questionnaire along with tests assessing seven auditory skills: sound localization (SL), dichotic digits task, speech perception in noise, auditory closure, staggered dichotic words test (SDW), temporal resolution, and temporal ordering. Descriptive data analysis considered AudBility's reference parameters: 80% = normal. Results. The tests with the highest frequency of abnormalities were SL and temporal ordering frequency (TOF), both with 22.5%. On average, these tests were considered as "caution" (SL = 72.75%; TOF = 67.5%). The self-assessment questionnaire had the highest frequency of "caution" results (52.5%), followed by SDW (35%) and TOF (32.5%). On average, the self-assessment questionnaire and TOF showed caution values (74.41% and 67.5%, respectively). SDW had normal average values (81.5%). No test showed abnormal average values. Conclusion. Auditory screening using AudBility can serve as an entry point for assessing auditory and cognitive health in the elderly population, guiding referrals and therapies before in-person interventions.

Keywords

• Auditory perception
• old age assistance
• aged
• geriatric assessment
• audiology