(PP103) Auditory Training for Children: A Review of Free Mobile Phone Apps

Use of apps is becoming an increasingly common recommendation for parents of children with hearing loss. The purpose of this research project was to complete an analysis of mobile phone-based auditory training apps available for use with children with hearing loss, that can serve as a resource for audiologists and parents. A rating system was adapted from the work of Olson (2015) to rank and rate apps with consideration of evidence-based auditory training principles, as well as other key features. Only free apps were included in order to limit any healthcare inequities presented with apps that require purchase/subscription.

Summary: 

Although providing audibility via hearing aids or implants is the first step of the audiologic (re)habilitation process, follow-up services are essential to the child’s speech, language and cognitive development. A critical component of the (re)habilitation process is auditory training, or engaging in tasks that practice skills vital to effective communication, such as phonological awareness, working memory, and sound identification (Rayes et al., 2019). Recently, a number of auditory training apps have been released for use with children with hearing loss. The sheer number of apps available can leave audiologists and parents overwhelmed with the options. The purpose of this project, therefore, was to analyze and compare key features of currently available mobile phone-based auditory training apps designed for use with children with hearing loss. Only free apps were included in this project in order to limit healthcare inequities presented with apps that require purchase or subscription.

A list of apps used for auditory training that are available for Apple devices was obtained from a spreadsheet created by Childress (2020) and a search of the Apple store to find all auditory training apps listed by hearing device manufacturers. Only free apps that had an interactive component (and thus rehabilitative value) were selected for review. Ultimately, 17 apps were eligible for review. A spreadsheet was used to review and rate apps based on 5 categories: Clarity of Visual Layout, Clarity of Instructions, Need for Instruction to Operate App, Incorporation of Relevant Evidence-Based Auditory Training Principles: Skills, and Incorporation of Relevant Evidence-Based Auditory Training Principles: Difficulty. The former three categories were adapted from Olson (2015) who reviewed auditory training apps for adults. The latter two categories were adapted from Tye-Murray (2015) to ensure that apps incorporated relevant evidence-based principles of auditory training.

Tables were developed to rank apps based on categories. Sixteen apps ranked at the highest level for Need for Instruction to Operate App. Fifteen apps ranked in the highest level for Clarity of Visual Layout.. Seven apps ranked at the highest level for Clarity of Instructions. Three apps ranked at the highest level for the Skills category. Four apps ranked at the highest level for the Difficulty category. A total of six apps obtained an overall score of 13 or higher. A compendium featuring the tables was created, including each app’s ratings, summaries of the highest-ranked apps from each category, and QR codes. Because of the inherent word limitations of this proposal, the compendium cannot be attached to this submission. However, given that it is the direct result of this project that summarizes results in tabular form, it will be included on the poster.

The results of this project provide another way for audiologists to offer families support and ideas for (re)habilitation that are user-friendly and accessible. Using the compendium, recommendations for auditory training apps can be individualized based on the needs of the child as well as the characteristics of the app. Sharing information about these apps promotes a family-centered care approach to the decision making process.