title: An Italian matrix sentence test for the evaluation of speech intelligibility in noise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Development of an Italian matrix sentence test for the assessment of speech intelligibility in noise.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development of the test included the selection, recording, optimization with level adjustment, and evaluation of speech material. The training effect was assessed adaptively during the evaluation measurements with six lists of 20 sentences, using open- and closed-set response formats. Reference data were established for normal-hearing listeners with adaptive measurements. Equivalence of the test lists was investigated using the open-set response format at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 normal-hearing Italian mother-tongue listeners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluation measurements at fixed SNRs resulted in a mean speech reception threshold (SRT) of -7.3 ± 0.2 dB SNR and slope of 13.3 ± 1.2 %/dB. The major training effect of 1.5 dB was observed for the first two consecutive measurements. Mean SRTs of -6.7 ± 0.7 dB SNR and -7.4 ± 0.7 dB SNR were found from the third to the sixth adaptive measurement for open- and closed-set test response formats, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A good agreement has been found between the SRTs and slope and those of other matrix tests. Since sentences are difficult to memorize, the Italian matrix test is suitable for repeated measurements.
authors.affiliation: a * Department of Energy , Politecnico di Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina Emma
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.affiliation: b Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, and Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all , Oldenburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warzybok
authors.affiliation: b Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, and Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all , Oldenburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hochmuth
authors.affiliation: c Department of Engineering , Università di Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visentin
authors.affiliation: a * Department of Energy , Politecnico di Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astolfi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Engineering , Università di Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.affiliation: d Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, and HörTech gGmbH , Oldenburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kollmeier
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Italian speech recognition test; Speech perception; speech audiometry; speech reception threshold