Validating the Hum Test

Summary

The sensitivity and specificity of the Hum Test is being investigated in it's ability to detect conductive hearing loss. The hum test is simply elicited by asking the subject to hum to him or herself for a few seconds at both a high and low pitch that is comfortable for the subject. The subject is then asked if the hum was heard on one side more than the other (left or right), or if the sound was equal on both sides. To simulate conductive hearing loss, ear plugs will be placed in one of the subject's ears. We will elicit the hum test as well as the standard Weber test and audiogram across two conditions, with an ear plug and without an ear plug. From this, it is hoped to assess how the Hum Test compares to the audiogram (gold standard) in detecting conductive hearing loss as well as how it compares to the standard Weber test. If the Hum Test demonstrates strong sensitivity and specificity in detecting conductive hearing loss, it could have application as being utilized as an alternative to the standard Weber test, or in a setting where a formal physical examination may not yet be possible but where the etiology of a patient's hearing change could be quickly assessed remotely and thus the urgency of intervention/ consultation could then be determined.

Conditions

• Hearing Loss

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Hum Test

The subject will be brought into an exam room. The subject will then be asked to hum for a few seconds in a low pitch. They will then be asked if the nose was heard more so in one ear compared to the other. The subject will then be asked to hum for a few seconds in a high pitch. They will then be asked again if the noise was heard more so in one ear compared to the other.

PROCEDURE

Weber Test

Using a 512 Hz tuning fork, the tuning fork will be vibrated and placed on the subject's glabella (forehead landmark). The subject will then be asked if the vibration was heard more so in one ear compared to the other.

DEVICE

Audiogram

A standard audiogram will be administered by an audiologist.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• NYU Langone Health

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Erich Voigt, MD · NYU Langone Health

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-09-30

Primary Completion

2016-05-31

Completion

2016-05-31