Discussion and Prospective: Global Overview of The Landscape of Currently Available Tinnitus Apps and Future Recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61360/BoniGHSS262020580406Keywords:
tinnitus, health application, accessibility, tinnitus management, user experienceAbstract
Tinnitus is a hearing problem that has been neglected or misunderstood in the field of information sciences. Most existing reviews of smartphone apps for tinnitus focus primarily on English-language apps, and tinnitus-related research is often confined to a single country. This study aims to provide a cross-country overview of currently available tinnitus-related smartphone applications. Using a quantitative descriptive design, the study examined apps identified through tinnitus-related keyword searches in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The collected dataset was analyzed for the proportion of tinnitus-related apps, platform distribution, therapy methods, cost structures, and keywords in app descriptions. The results indicated that most apps offered only a single treatment option, which was typically sound therapy. Educational terms were largely absent from app descriptions, while platform availability varied across the four countries. This cross-country study is expected to act as a roadmap for future research, improving the existing smartphone apps for treating tinnitus and eventually enhancing the user’s experience.
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