title: Speech-in-noise screening tests by internet, part 1: test evaluation for noise-induced hearing loss identification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the Netherlands three internet-based self-screening tests have been developed; the National Hearing Test (NHT), Earcheck (EC), and Occupational Earcheck (OEC). These tests are adaptive speech-in-noise tests using either digit triplets or monosyllables, presented in stationary speech-shaped noise. These tests can be highly valuable in increasing the awareness and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This study evaluates these online speech-in-noise tests and investigates their potential to detect NIHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multi-centre study the results of the three online screening tests are compared to pure-tone audiometry and to the Dutch sentence SRT test ( Plomp & Mimpen, 1979a ), which is considered the clinical standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 49 normal-hearing listeners and 49 patients with different degrees of NIHL participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The online tests show good reliability, but there is much overlap in outcomes between normal-hearing listeners and participants with early NIHL. In addition, rather low correlations of the test results with both the Dutch sentence SRT test and pure-tone thresholds are found. These findings result in rather low test sensitivity: 54% (NHT) and 51% (EC), or low specificity: 49% (OEC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The online screening tests in their current form are unsuitable to be used for early NIHL screening purposes.
authors: Clinical and Experimental Audiology, ENT Department, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.c.leensen@amc.nl
authors: Monique C J
authors: MC
authors: Leensen
authors: Jan A P M
authors: JA
authors: de Laat
authors: Wouter A
authors: WA
authors: Dreschler
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D055815:Young Adult