Validating the Hum Test

NCT02740322 | Withdrawn

• 1 other identifier: 15-00102
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: N/A
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief 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

Keywords

Hum Test, Weber test, audiogram

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The correlation of the results between the Hum Test and the Audiogram

  The Hum test will measure a subject's ability to hear a high pitch and a low pitch in each ear. The Audiogram will measure a subject's hearing threshold at various frequencies.

  30 minutes

• The correlation between the Hum Test and the Weber Test

  The Weber Test will measure a subject's ability to hear vibrations in both ears.

  30 Minutes

Study Arms (1)

Hum Test

OTHER

To examine and compare the Hum Test, Weber Test, and audiogram in their ability to detect and identify hearing loss, hearing loss will be simulated with the use of ear plugs (mimicking conductive hearing loss). Subjects will serve as their own control as these tests will be conducted with and without ear plugs.

Procedure: Hum Test; Procedure: Weber Test; Device: Audiogram

Interventions

Hum Test PROCEDURE

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.

Hum Test

Weber Test PROCEDURE

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.

Hum Test

Audiogram DEVICE

A standard audiogram will be administered by an audiologist.

Hum Test

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-35
• Subjective normal hearing and no previous complaints or history of hearing problems or otologic disorders
• Subjects will be NYU medical students, NYU resident physicians, or patients from the Long Island Cochlear Implant Center

You may not qualify if:

• Has not had a URI (assessed by asking patient if they have had fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, or runny nose) within one month of study session

Sponsors & Collaborators

• NYU Langone Health: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hearing Loss

Interventions

Audiometry

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hearing Disorders; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hearing Tests; Diagnostic Techniques, Otological; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis

Study Officials

• Erich Voigt, MD

  NYU Langone Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2016
• First Posted: April 15, 2016
• Study Start: September 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2016
• Study Completion: May 1, 2016
• Last Updated: October 16, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-10