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<p>Smartphones are valuable tools for bedside patient examination. The aim of this study was to validate the smartphone-based Weber test, using the mobile phone vibration application. Prospective, controlled clinical study carried out in a tertiary center from 13th January 2025 to 28th April 2025. The study group was composed of patients with otological conditions resulting in unilateral conductive hearing loss (31 patients) or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (30 patients) and who underwent formal audiological evaluation. If all the inclusion criteria were fulfilled, each study subject underwent a Weber test in a soundproof testing room. The traditional tuning fork-based Weber test was performed sequentially with a 512 and a 256&#xa0;Hz aluminum tuning forks. The smartphone-based Weber test was performed with a single uncovered iPhone 16 ProMax<sup>®</sup> (2024) smartphone. Sixty-one patients met the inclusion criteria and participated in this study (mean age 45.3 years, range 20–79 years, 14 men). The control group consisted of 40 patients (mean age 41 years, range 18 to 69 years, 17 males). There were no significant differences in the distribution by sex or age between the groups (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Among the various methods of performing the Weber test, we found better results using the 512&#xa0;Hz tuning fork (sensitivity 83.9% and specificity 96.7%) and the smartphone-based Weber test performed with Vibe<sup>®</sup> (sensitivity 90.3% and specificity 89.7%). Comparing the Weber test performed with the 512&#xa0;Hz tuning fork and the Weber test performed with the smartphone app Vibe<sup>®</sup>, we found no statistically significant differences between the two evaluations (<i>Z</i> = -1,000; <i>p</i> = 0.317). This study highlights the potential advantages of using smartphone-based technology to perform the Weber test. The results demonstrated that the smartphone-based Weber test is a reliable alternative for the assessment of bedside hearing loss, and can decrease response time and improve decision-making, for a rapid qualitative assessment of hearing loss.</p>

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Weber Test: Do You Have a Smartphone?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月9日

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  • Kaamil Gani,
  • Luís Roque dos Reis,
  • André Pereira,
  • Luís Castelhano,
  • Filipe Correia,
  • Pedro Escada

摘要

Smartphones are valuable tools for bedside patient examination. The aim of this study was to validate the smartphone-based Weber test, using the mobile phone vibration application. Prospective, controlled clinical study carried out in a tertiary center from 13th January 2025 to 28th April 2025. The study group was composed of patients with otological conditions resulting in unilateral conductive hearing loss (31 patients) or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (30 patients) and who underwent formal audiological evaluation. If all the inclusion criteria were fulfilled, each study subject underwent a Weber test in a soundproof testing room. The traditional tuning fork-based Weber test was performed sequentially with a 512 and a 256 Hz aluminum tuning forks. The smartphone-based Weber test was performed with a single uncovered iPhone 16 ProMax® (2024) smartphone. Sixty-one patients met the inclusion criteria and participated in this study (mean age 45.3 years, range 20–79 years, 14 men). The control group consisted of 40 patients (mean age 41 years, range 18 to 69 years, 17 males). There were no significant differences in the distribution by sex or age between the groups (p > 0.05). Among the various methods of performing the Weber test, we found better results using the 512 Hz tuning fork (sensitivity 83.9% and specificity 96.7%) and the smartphone-based Weber test performed with Vibe® (sensitivity 90.3% and specificity 89.7%). Comparing the Weber test performed with the 512 Hz tuning fork and the Weber test performed with the smartphone app Vibe®, we found no statistically significant differences between the two evaluations (Z = -1,000; p = 0.317). This study highlights the potential advantages of using smartphone-based technology to perform the Weber test. The results demonstrated that the smartphone-based Weber test is a reliable alternative for the assessment of bedside hearing loss, and can decrease response time and improve decision-making, for a rapid qualitative assessment of hearing loss.