The World Health Organization (WHO) hearing impairment guidelines and a speech recognition in noise (SRN) disorder

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.

Keywords:

• Hearing
• diagnostic
• accuracy
• pure-tone
• speech
• noise

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.