Development and evaluation of Mandarin disyllabic materials for speech audiometry in China

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate disyllabic Mandarin speech test materials (MSTMs) in order to facilitate wider use of speech audiometry in Chinese audiology clinics. Phonologically balanced Mandarin disyllabic materials with high familiarity were designed based on the basic rules for developing speech materials and the particular characteristics of Mandarin, and recorded digitally. In order to establish the validity and reliability of these Mandarin disyllabic materials, equivalence of difficulty between the word lists was evaluated for a group of 60 subjects (age-range 18–25 years) with normal hearing. Subsequently, performance-intensity (PI) functions were measured in a group of 30 subjects with normal hearing (age-range 18–25 years), and a group of 35 subjects with sensineural hearing loss. The nine lists of Mandarin disyllabic materials were found to have sufficient reliability and validity to be used in clinical situations

• Auditory processing
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Neonatal
• Pediatric
• Noise
• Middle ear
• Hearing aids
• Hearing-aid satisfaction
• Mandarin
• Speech audiometry
• Reliability
• Validity
• Disyllabic
• Phonologically balanced
• Digitally recorded

Sumario

El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar y evaluar material bisilábico en mandarín para logoaudiometría (MSTMs) con el fin de facilitar un amplio uso de la logoaudiometría en las clínicas chinas de audiología. Se diseñó y se grabó digitalmente material bisilábico fonológicamente balanceado, con alto grado de familiaridad, con base en las reglas básicas para desarrollar material vocal y las características particulares del mandarín. Para establecer la validez y la fiabilidad de este material bisilábico en mandarín, la equivalencia en la dificultad se evaluó en 60 sujetos normoyentes (edad de 28 a 25 años). Subsecuentemente se midió la función desempeño/intensidad (PI) en un grupo de 30 sujetos normoyentes (edad 18 a 25 años) y en un grupo de 35 sujetos con hipoacusia sensorineural. Se encontró que las nueve listas de material disilábico en mandarin poseían fiabilidad y validez para ser utilizadas en situaciones clínicas.