title: [Speech audiometric outcome parameters in clinical trials on hearing improvement].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When comparing clinical studies nationally and internationally, there is great heterogeneity in the applied audiometric outcome parameters. Beside different frequencies included in pure-tone audiometry and the resulting averages, the word recognition scores are measured at varying sound pressure levels, i.e., either with a fixed sound pressure level or with a fixed sensation level. However, a comparison of studies, e. g., in meta-analysis, requires comparable outcome parameters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the influence of speech-audiometric outcome parameters on the outcome reporting of hearing therapies is studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before and after a conservative or a surgical treatment aimed at hearing improvement, 25 patients with hearing impairment were tested with the German Freiburg speech intelligibility test with monosyllables and numbers at various levels, and with the German Oldenburg sentence test in quiet. Additionally, 49 subjects with normal hearing were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a comparison of measurement methods (outcome parameters), the hearing improvement measured using constant sound pressure levels for speech audiometry was significantly greater and therefore more sensitive than using constant sensation levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To test changes in hearing in clinical studies, fixed sound pressure levels should be preferred to fixed sensation levels. For the development of standardized outcome parameters for measuring speech intelligibility in quiet, fixed sound pressure levels or measurement of speech reception thresholds should be selected.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Deutschland.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Plontke
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Deutschland. torsten.rahne@uk-halle.de.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rahne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Hearing loss; Rehabilitation; Speech audiometry; Speech discrimination tests; Speech reception threshold