Listening in Spatialized Noise – Universal Test (LiSN-U) test-retest reliability study

Abstract

Objective

To assess test-retest reliability of the Listening in Spatialised Noise – Universal test (LiSN-U).

Design

Test-retest reliability study. Participants completed the LiSN-U twice, four to eight weeks apart.

Study sample: Test-retest reliability was analysed for 23 adults and 109 children.

Results

ANOVA showed significant group average score improvement on LiSN-U spatially-separated and co-located conditions on retest (by 1.3 and 0.9 dB, respectively), but not on the difference between them (spatial advantage). Critical difference scores for children were −3.6 dB for the spatially-separated condition, −5.8 dB for the co-located condition, and 5.5 dB for spatial advantage. Critical difference scores for adults were −2.0 dB for the spatially-separated condition, −4.9 dB for the co-located condition, and 5.4 dB for spatial advantage. A correlation analysis was run to determine the relationship between test and retest speech reception thresholds. The correlation was r = 0.63, p < 0.001 for the spatially-separated condition, r = 0.50, p < 0.001 for the co-located condition, and r = 0.37, p < 0.001 for the spatial advantage measure.

Conclusions

The LiSN-U, which is potentially useable for speakers of any language, shows mean test-retest difference and test-retest reliability comparable to other tests that have proven useful in clinical practice.

Keywords:

• Spatial processing disorder
• central auditory processing disorders
• test-retest reliability
• speech perception

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the NSW Department of Education and the primary schools who took part in this research. The participation of the children and their families are also appreciated. This research is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health. Harvey Dillon acknowledges the support of Macquarie University, the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, and the Australian Department of Health. Sharon Cameron acknowledges the support of Macquarie University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).