Exploring the sensitivity of speech-in-noise tests for noise-induced hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, the digit triplet test was shown to be a sensitive speech-in-noise test for early high-frequency hearing loss in noise-exposed workers. This study investigates if a further improvement is achieved when using a closed set of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) speech items with the same vowel, and/or a low-pass (LP) filtered version of the standard speech-shaped noise.


METHODS
Speech reception thresholds in noise were gathered for the digit triplet, CVC, and CVC_LP test and compared to the high-frequency pure-tone average (PTA).


METHODS
118 noise-exposed workers showing a wide range of high-frequency hearing losses.


RESULTS
For the 84 Dutch-speaking participants, the CVC test showed an increased measurement error and a decreased between-subject variation, leading to a weaker correlation with the PTA2,3,4,6 (R = 0.64) and thus a lower sensitivity compared to the digit triplet test (R = 0.86). However, the use of LP-filtered noise resulted in a sensitivity improvement (R = 0.79 versus R = 0.64) due to the large increase in between-subject spread. Similar trends were found for the 34 French-speaking workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Using CVC words with the same vowel could not increase the sensitivity to detect isolated high-frequency hearing loss. With LP-filtered noise, test sensitivity improved, but it did not surpass the original digit triplet test.
* KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, ExpORL , Leuven , Belgium.
Sofie
S
Jansen
Heleen
H
Luts
Philippe
P
Dejonckere
Astrid
A
van Wieringen
Jan
J
Wouters
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D055815:Young Adult