The new portable hearing test technology developed by DOD makes it possible for researchers to assess and diagnose hearing health not only on the battlefield but in a clinical setting to enable quicker diagnosis and treatment for hearing loss.
The initial prototype project called the Integrated Platform for Clinical Assessment and Monitoring was developed at the Defense Health Agency’s Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) https://hearing.health.mil. HCE is a division of Defense Health Agency’s R&D Directorate.
The research was led by Dr. Douglas Brungart at the National Military Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and conducted in collaboration with the Army’s Medical Research and Development Command and the Army’s Public Health Center.
The technology referred to as the Wireless Automated Hearing Test System (WAHTS) https://edareino.com/edare/wireless, consists of a headset, a computer tablet or laptop, along with custom hearing related software and an integrated dosimeter.
Dr. Theresa Schulz, HCE’s Prevention and Surveillance Branch Chief, explained “The military services are pilot-testing boothless audiometry in a variety of remote environments to determine future viability of the technology.”
WAHTS is showing promise treating patients with diabetes mellitus and able to identify hearing loss, which is twice as common in adults with diabetes as compared to those without the condition, according to a NIH study.
To further address this need to help patients, HCE and the Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCE) at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, are conducting a project incorporating the screening of hearing loss using WAHTS during routine clinic appointments for patients with diabetes.
To increase awareness and use of boothless audiometry, HCE established the joint DOD and Department of Veterans Affairs Boothless Audiometry Networking Group (BANG) in 2020. The goal for BANG is to collaborate and advance the use of the technology across DOD and the VA.
According to Dr. Carlos Esquivel, HCE Acting Division Chief, “As WAHTS is used in austere and remote environment, clinical settings, and beyond, boothless audiometry is proving to have multiple applications and value for health care. Future research studies and quality improvement projects to enable hearing health care to be delivered where it is needed.”