EFAS Working Group on Data formats for Big Data in Audiology

To develop generally usable open data standards for audiological data and to disseminate their application, a community-driven approach is being pursued. Everyone interested can get involved in reviewing standards and thus contribute to their usability and acceptance; or develop new standards for additional audiological tests.
In May 2023, an EFAS International Working Group ” Data Formats for Big Data in Audiology” was founded to bundle the activities. Within this framework, meetings are held to exchange ideas and plan activities, as well as hands-on workshops on how to use the relevant tools.

Members

Convenor:
Birger Kollmeier, D-Oldenburg

Founding members:
Avan, Paul CERIAH- IDA, Paris
Büchner, Andreas Hannover Medical School & Hearin4All
Buhl, Mareike CERIAH- IDA, Paris
Denys, Sam KU Leuven
Dietz, Mathias Universität Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Gerenton, Gregory CERIAH- IDA, Paris
Heinrich, Antje Manchester University
Kishon-Rabin, Liat Tel-Aviv University
Kollmeier, Birger Universität Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Quinsac, Celine CERIAH- IDA, Paris
Saak, Samira Universität Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Schell-Majoor, Lena Universität Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Thai-Van, Hung CERIAH- IDA, Paris
Wagener, Kirsten C. Hörzentrum Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Warzybok, Anna Universität Oldenburg & Hearing4All
Wouters, Jan KU Leuven
Wulff, Antje Universität Oldenburg

Open data standards in audiology

The standardization of formats for data storage is fundamental to simplify the cross-institutional exchange and thus the efficient use of data and the combination of different data sources. An international group of experts is therefore currently working on such standardization for audiological data structures to advance data-driven audiology. Here, the FAIR principles are to be taken into account, and in particular, interoperability is to be guaranteed.
OpenEHR is an interoperability standard that allows clinical concepts to be described and stored unambiguously, both syntactically and semantically. So-called archetypes are created for this purpose. For a clinical concept, an archetype defines which data elements are relevant and fully describes the existing data and metadata. For specific use cases such as the creation of forms, analyses on databases, or the development of applications, so-called templates are developed that combine and constrain the data elements from existing archetypes.
Participation welcome!

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Lena Schell-Majoor

Meetings

The working group meets regularly both during the EFAS congresses and intermediate workshops as well as online in between these dates.
The next scheduled meeting is during the EFAS 2025 congress in Vienna: Wednesday, May 14th, 13.30-14.30 hrs room Hartmann. Everyone interested is welcome!
If you are interested to participate in further meetings, please contact Dr. Lena Schell-Majoor

Links

Videotalk of Dr. Mareike Buhl on “Big Data and Data Standards in Audiology“ from the VCCA 2024:
https://youtu.be/Ty9UR3VWSA8

Videotalk of Prof. Antje Wulff “Towards interoperable data in audiology” (could also be provided as videofile):
https://cloud.uol.de/s/iXLtZgcnfKdmp2S

Clinical Knowledge Manager (CKM): https://ckm.openehr.org/ckm/ à sign up to become a reviewer and contact Dr. Lena Schell-Majoor to be added to the incubator of this working group

Open EHR: https://openehr.org/

„FAIR” Data Principles: https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/