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Original Article

Recognition of digits in different types of noise by normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners

Reconocimieto de dígitos en diferentes tipos de ruido por normoyentes e hipoacúsicos

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Pages 134-144 | Received 29 Oct 2006, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine the ability to understand digits in different types of noise. Adaptive speech-in-noise tests were developed that measure the speech-reception-threshold (SRTn) i.e. signal-to-noise ratio that corresponds to 50% intelligibility. Digits were presented in continuous noise, 16-Hz interrupted noise, and 32-Hz interrupted noise. Also the standard Dutch triplet SRTn test in continuous noise was included. Results for forty-two ears of normal-hearing and hearing-impaired adult participants are presented. The ratio between the standard deviation in SRTn values between subjects and the measurement error determines the efficiency of the tests. A high efficiency could be achieved by using triplets instead of digits, or by using 16-Hz interrupted noise instead of continuous noise, because this resulted in a large spread in SRTn values. The simple calculation method of averaging presentation levels was highly efficient. The digit SRTn test in 16-Hz interrupted noise was very efficient in discriminating between normal-hearing listeners and hearing-impaired listeners, and might be used to screen for hearing loss as measured by pure-tone audiometry.

Abbreviations
SRTn=

Speech-reception-threshold in noise

Rms=

Root mean square

Abbreviations
SRTn=

Speech-reception-threshold in noise

Rms=

Root mean square

Sumario

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la habilidad para entender dígitos en diferentes tipos de ruido. Se desarrollaron pruebas adaptables de lenguaje en ruido que miden el umbral de recepción del habla (SRTn p.ej. relación señal/ruido que corresponde a 50% de inteligibilidad). Se presentaron dígitos en ruido continuo y en ruido interrumpido a 16 y a 32 Hz. También se incluyó la prueba SRTn estándar holandesa con ternas en ruido continuo. Se presentan los resultados de 42 oídos de adultos normoyentes e hipoacúsicos. La proporción entre la desviación estándar en los valores de SRTn entre sujetos y el error medido determina la eficiencia de las pruebas. Se podría lograr una alta eficiencia utilizando ternas en vez de dígitos o utilizando el ruido interrumpido a 16 Hz en vez de ruido continuo, ya que esto resulto en una amplia dispersión de los valores SRTn. Fue muy eficiente el método simple de promediación de los niveles de presentación. La prueba SRTn con dígito en ruido interrumpido a 16 Hz fue muy eficiente para discriminar entre normoyentes e hipoacúsicos y podría ser utilizado para el tamiz de hipoacusia como se mide con la audiometría tonal.

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