How much does language proficiency by non-native listeners influence speech audiometric tests in noise?
OBJECTIVE
The current study investigates the extent to which the linguistic complexity of three commonly employed speech recognition tests and second language proficiency influence speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) in noise in non-native listeners.


METHODS
SRTs were measured for non-natives and natives using three German speech recognition tests: the digit triplet test (DTT), the Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA), and the Göttingen sentence test (GÖSA).


METHODS
Sixty-four non-native and eight native listeners participated.


RESULTS
Non-natives can show native-like SRTs in noise only for the linguistically easy speech material (DTT). Furthermore, the limitation of phonemic-acoustical cues in digit triplets affects speech recognition to the same extent in non-natives and natives. For more complex and less familiar speech materials, non-natives, ranging from basic to advanced proficiency in German, require on average 3-dB better signal-to-noise ratio for the OLSA and 6-dB for the GÖSA to obtain 50% speech recognition compared to native listeners.


CONCLUSIONS
In clinical audiology, SRT measurements with a closed-set speech test (i.e. DTT for screening or OLSA test for clinical purposes) should be used with non-native listeners rather than open-set speech tests (such as the GÖSA or HINT), especially if a closed-set version in the patient's own native language is available.
a * Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg , Oldenburg , Germany.|c Cluster of Excellence 'Hearing4all' , Oldenburg , Germany.
Anna
A
Warzybok
a * Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg , Oldenburg , Germany.|c Cluster of Excellence 'Hearing4all' , Oldenburg , Germany.
Thomas
T
Brand
b Hörzentrum Oldenburg GmbH , Oldenburg , Germany.|c Cluster of Excellence 'Hearing4all' , Oldenburg , Germany.
Kirsten C
KC
Wagener
a * Medizinische Physik, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg , Oldenburg , Germany.|b Hörzentrum Oldenburg GmbH , Oldenburg , Germany.|c Cluster of Excellence 'Hearing4all' , Oldenburg , Germany.|d HörTech gGmbH , Oldenburg , Germany.
Birger
B
Kollmeier
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D032882:Comprehension; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
Non-natives; digit triplet test; linguistic complexity; sentence test in noise; speech recognition in noise