Abstract
Objective
The WHO uses the better ear PTA(0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz) to infer speech recognition in noise (SRN) ability. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of this measure to detect an SRN disorder.
Design
The reference standard was the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT). The index test was better ear PTA(0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz). Diagnostic accuracy was determined with receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC) for data sets with and without complete audibility of the HINT stimuli.
Study sample
Data from previously published studies (n = 381) were retrospectively divided into disordered and control groups.
Results
For the All Data analysis, better ear PTA(0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz) was a significant predictor of an SRN disorder, however, the AUC was just above chance (AUC = 0.59, p < 0.001). For the Partial Audibility analysis, better ear PTA(0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz) was a significant predictor of the target disorder (AUC = 0.85, p = 0.001).
Conclusions
The utilization of better ear PTA(0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz) to infer SRN ability is questionable for individuals with complete audibility of the reference test speech and noise stimuli.
Acknowledgment
The first author thanks Brenda H. Vermiglio, M.A. for her extremely helpful comments on all drafts of this manuscript.
Disclosure statement
There is no financial conflict of interest or source of funding for this study. The first author is a co-developer of formerly available commercial versions of the Hearing in Noise Test.
Correction Statement
This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.