Smartphone hearing checks for newborns in Kenya
mHealth OAE: Towards Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Kenya (mTUNE)
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · NIH-11375372
This project tests a low-cost smartphone device to screen newborns and young infants for hearing loss at Kenyan clinics.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11375372 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If my newborn is enrolled, health workers will use a low-cost smartphone attachment that records ear responses (otoacoustic emissions) to check hearing. The team will refine the device and app to work in noisy clinic settings and for different infant ages, and will train frontline and lay health workers to use it. They will pilot the screening across Kenyan clinics, compare consistency between users, and improve usability based on real-world feedback. The goal is a simple, affordable hearing check that can be used routinely in low-resource clinics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and young infants receiving postnatal care at participating clinics in Kenya.
Not a fit: Children beyond the early infancy period, people outside participating Kenyan clinics, or those with hearing problems not detectable by OAE screening are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier detection and timely treatment of hearing loss for newborns in Kenyan clinics using affordable equipment.
How similar studies have performed: Similar smartphone OAE devices have shown comparable performance to standard screening equipment in U.S. trials, but their real-world use in low-resource Kenyan clinics is relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BENKI-NUGENT, SARAH F. — UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- Study coordinator: BENKI-NUGENT, SARAH F.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus