Section: 
Otiology
OtiologyPossibilities of telemedicine consultation in primary hearing assessment
T. Yu. Vladimirova (1), O. V. Fatenkov (2), A. B. Martynova (3), P. A. Kshnyakin (4)
(1), (2), (3), (4) Samara State Medical University, Samara, 443099, Russian Federation
UDK: УДК 616.28-008.1-07:004.77
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2025-5-94-100
ABSTRACT
Abstract. Introduction. Modern telemedicine hardware and software systems for diagnostics and monitoring of chronic diseases can be used in primary healthcare to assess the condition of ENT organs and competently route patients. Objective. To evaluate the possibility of using the Teleotorhinolaryngologist TAPAC (telemedicine analytical hardware and software system) (TAPAC) for primary hearing assessment in outpatient practice. Methods. A cross-sectional study in several stages was conducted at the Specialized Consultative and Diagnostic Center of Clinics of the Samara State Medical University, which involved 224 patients aged 18 to 73 years (48.2±14.6 years). At stage I, otological complaints and anamnesis were collected; stage II included hearing examination using pure-tone audiometry; at stage III, 66 patients (55.4±7.4 years) with bilateral chronic sensorineural hearing loss were examined to study the consistency of the hearing assessment results using the Teleotorhinolaryngologist TAPAC and the pure-tone audiometry. Results. All patients who complained of hearing loss had hearing loss: in 8.9% (n = 20) of cases, the hearing loss was conductive, in 4% (n = 9) of patients it was mixed, and in 29.5% of cases (n = 66) it was sensorineural. In 60 (26.8%) patients with complaints of bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss was confirmed according to the Teleotorhinolaryngologist TAPAC data. The maximum difference between the results of pure-tone audiometry and hearing assessment using the Teleotorhinolaryngologist TAPAC was noted at frequencies of 2 and 4 kHz (3.5 and 3.7 dB for the right ear) and at frequencies of 4 and 8 kHz (7.2 and 6.9 dB for the left ear). Minimum differences were found at frequencies of 0.125 kHz and 0.25 kHz (0.6 dB on the right and 0.7 dB on the left). Conclusions. The use of the Teleotorhinolaryngologist TAPAC is advisable at outpatient appointments to optimize subsequent routing of patients to specialized specialists. According to the results of our examination, 39.7% of patients were recommended scheduled consultations with an audiologist, neurologist, and dentist to exclude/confirm concomitant pathology.
Publication date:
20.10.2025
Keywords:
auditory function, otolaryngology, diagnostics, telemedicine, hardware and software complex For citation:
Vladimirova T. Yu., Fatenkov O. V., Martynova A. B., Kshnyakin P. A. Possibilities of telemedicine consultation in primary hearing assessment. Russian Otorhinolaryngology. 2025;24(5):94-100. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2025-5-94-100