title: Development of Telscreen: a telephone-based speech-in-noise hearing screening test with a novel masking noise and scoring procedure.
abstract: In 2006 the National Acoustic Laboratories was commissioned to create a telephone-based hearing screening test.
  
  
  
  NAL developed 'Telscreen', a speech-in-noise test modelled on the Dutch and UK telephone tests. The first version, Telscreen I, had several novel features: individual scoring of digits; individual equalization of digit intelligibility; and accuracy-determined test termination. Evaluation of Telscreen I revealed that it did not discriminate satisfactorily between those with and without hearing impairment. Subsequently Telscreen II, which included a novel sensitized masking noise, was developed.
  
  
  
  Telscreen I was evaluated by 105 participants (22-86 years), 37% with normal hearing (all thresholds <20 dB HL in the test ear), 63% with hearing impairment (all thresholds >20 dB HL in the test ear). Telscreen II was evaluated by 75 participants (25-86 years), 33% with normal hearing, 67% with hearing impairment.
  
  
  
  Correlations between Telscreen I results and hearing thresholds, r = 0.57, and hearing disability scores, r = 0.51 were highly significant, but lower than expected. Correlations for Telscreen II were higher: r = 0.77 and 0.65, respectively. Telscreen II was found to have high sensitivity: 90%; and specificity: 90.2%.
  
  
  
  Telscreen II is an efficient, reliable, and innovative hearing screening test that provides a solid foundation for future tests delivered via mobile and internet technologies.
authors.affiliation: a National Acoustic Laboratories , Macquarie University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: a National Acoustic Laboratories , Macquarie University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Francis
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.affiliation: a National Acoustic Laboratories , Macquarie University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.affiliation: a National Acoustic Laboratories , Macquarie University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Lyndal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: a National Acoustic Laboratories , Macquarie University , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D013067:Speech Perception; D013689:Telephone; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Telephone; hearing; screening