Onsite mode

The SHOEBOX Online hearing screener was initially designed to be embedded on a customer's website so participants could take the test remotely. Each participant would configure their own devices and settings and perform the hearing test alone.

If you would like to assist your participants in this screening by using your own device and any wired over-ear headphones at your location, onsite mode can help you.

In this article:

• How onsite mode works
• Optimizing your test for onsite mode
  • Disabling the logo link
  • Disabling call-to-action buttons
• To enable onsite mode
• How do I use additional URL parameters with onsite mode?
• What headphones should I use?

How onsite mode works

• A hearing test performed using onsite mode is quicker as we have removed any unnecessary setup screens because you can preconfigure your headphones and testing location.
• A Restart button is available to quickly restart the test for another participant and protect privacy. This button is only available in onsite mode. If the Restart button is not clicked, the test will reset after 10 minutes of inactivity.
• You can be present during the test to explain the results and immediately walk the participant through next steps such as purchasing over the counter (OTC) hearing aids or scheduling further testing.
• The post-test contact capture forms on result pages are disabled in onsite mode. This is to protect the privacy of your participants since the test only restarts when the Restart button is clicked or after 10 minutes of inactivity. You can still use a pre-test contact capture form in onsite mode to gather information from participants.

Optimizing your test for onsite mode

If you’re going to use SHOEBOX Online only in onsite mode, you should consider making some of the following changes to your portal configuration settings to make it easier for in-person screening. If you’re using SHOEBOX Online for both onsite and remote screening from your website, these recommendations may not be appropriate as they would also affect remote screening on your website.

Disabling the logo link

This allows you to keep your organization’s logo but remove the link so that participants can’t click it and be taken away from the test page.

1. In the sidebar, hover over the Settings tab.

2. Under the SHOEBOX Online heading, click Branding.

   

3. In the top-right corner, click Edit.

4. In the Logo section, delete the URL from the field next to Logo Link.

   

5. In the top-right corner, click Save.

Disabling call-to-action buttons

This ensures that participants can’t click away from their test so you can discuss their results and walk them through the next steps.

1. In the sidebar, hover over the Settings tab.

2. Under the SHOEBOX Online heading, click Test Setup.

   

3. Under Result Pages, click the result page you want to modify.

   

4. In the top-right corner of the result page, click Edit.

5. In the Call-to-Action section, disable the toggle switch.

   

6. Scroll back to the top of the page and click Save.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for each result page with a call-to-action button.

To enable onsite mode

After optimizing your test, you can enable onsite mode.

1. Deactivate any volume-limiting features on the internet-ready tablet you’ll be using.
   • If this is turned on, SHOEBOX Online can’t reach the required volumes to screen the participant properly.
   • If you’re using an iPad, deactivate the Apple Hearing Health settings.
     • For iPadOS/iOS 17:
       1. Go to Settings > Sounds (and Haptics {if iPhone}) > Headphone Safety > Reduce Loud Sounds.
       2. Ensure that this feature is disabled (turned OFF).
     • For iPadOS/iOS 16 and below:
       1. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Reduce Loud Sounds.
       2. Ensure that this feature is disabled (turned OFF).
   • If you’re using an Android device, deactivate any volume-limiting settings.
     1. Go to Settings > Sounds and Vibrations > Volume.
     2. Ensure that the media volume limit is disabled (turned OFF).
2. Open Chrome and go to your SHOEBOX Online test URL with /?onsite=true added to the end of the URL. Example:
   • Online URL: www.shoeboxonline.com/myhearingtest
   • URL with onsite mode: www.shoeboxonline.com/myhearingtest/?onsite=true
3. Save the URL to your browser favorites/bookmarks in the device you’ll be sharing with participants.
4. In a quiet place, plug in your wired over-the-ear headphones.
   • Please do not use AirPods or other Bluetooth insert headphones as this could produce inconsistent results.
5. Turn up your device volume to max and start the test.

Finished testing and ready for the next participant? Simply click the Restart button to start the test over again. Your headphones are already plugged in and the volume is set.

How do I use additional URL parameters with onsite mode?

If you’re using Onsite Mode with additional URL parameters such as a source ID, each parameter must be joined in the URL by using an ampersand (&).

Example:

For more information about URL parameters, see Using reference and source IDs.

What headphones should I use?

You should use wired over-the-ear headphones because onsite mode automatically assumes you are using these types of headphones and performs calculations based on this.

Suggested headphones with high attenuation are RadioEar DD450 and DD65, as well as Vic Firth over-the-ear headphones.