title: Auditory brainstem response to complex sounds predicts self-reported speech-in-noise performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ability of the auditory brainstem response to complex sounds (cABR) to predict subjective ratings of speech understanding in noise on the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ; Gatehouse & Noble, 2004) relative to the predictive ability of the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004) and pure-tone hearing thresholds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 111 middle- to older-age adults (range = 45-78) with audiometric configurations ranging from normal hearing levels to moderate sensorineural hearing loss. In addition to using audiometric testing, the authors also used such evaluation measures as the QuickSIN, the SSQ, and the cABR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the inclusion of brainstem variables in a model with QuickSIN, hearing thresholds, and age accounted for 30% of the variance in the Speech subtest of the SSQ, compared with significantly less variance (19%) when brainstem variables were not included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' results demonstrate the cABR's efficacy for predicting self-reported speech-in-noise perception difficulties. The fact that the cABR predicts more variance in self-reported speech-in-noise (SIN) perception than either the QuickSIN or hearing thresholds indicates that the cABR provides additional insight into an individual's ability to hear in background noise. In addition, the findings underscore the link between the cABR and hearing in noise.
authors: Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. sander22@umd.edu
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Anderson
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Parbery-Clark
authors: Travis
authors: T
authors: White-Schwoch
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D010700:Phonetics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D013017:Sound Localization; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013067:Speech Perception