Development and evaluation of the Mandarin speech signal content on the acceptable noise level test in listeners with normal hearing in mainland China

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: To develop and evaluate the Mandarin speech signal content on the acceptable noise level (ANL) test in listeners with normal hearing in mainland China. Design: The Mandarin ANL tests were conducted using three different sets of Mandarin running speech materials which were chosen from textbooks for primary school, secondary school, and high school, respectively. For each discourse, two ANL measurements were obtained and averaged for each experimental condition using ANL test procedures. Study sample: Thirty-one normal-hearing listeners participated in this study. Results: There were significant differences for ANLs among the normal-hearing listeners, but no differences were found for MCLs and ANLs for the three sets of test materials. The Pearson correlations suggested significant correlations between MCL and ANL among the three test materials; also the results showed that the correlation coefficient between MCL-ANL of the primary material was much better than other two materials. Conclusions: (1) The contents of different Mandarin running speeches may not affect the acceptable noise level in Mandarin normal-hearing listeners; (2) The running speech selected from the primary school ought to be used as the Mandarin acceptable noise level test material to evaluate the outcomes of hearing aid fitting.

Sumario

Objetivo: Desarrollar y evaluar el contenido de la señal de lenguaje en mandarín con la Prueba de Nivel de Ruido Aceptable (ANL), en sujetos con audición normal de China continental. Diseño: Las pruebas de ANL en mandarín fueron conducidas usando tres diferentes tipos de contenidos provenientes de materiales de lenguaje en mandarín escogidos de libros de texto para la escuela primaria, secundaria y preparatoria, respectivamente. Para cada discurso, se obtuvieron dos mediciones de ANL y se promediaron para cada condición experimental, usando los procedimientos de la prueba de ANL. Muestra del Estudio: Participaron en el estudio treinta y un sujetos con audición normal. Resultados: Existieron diferencias significativas de ANL entre los sujetos con audición normal, pero no se encontraron diferencias en el MCL y ANL de los tres materiales. Las correlaciones de Pearson sugirieron correlaciones significativas entre el MCL y ANL de los tres materiales; también los resultados mostraron que el coeficiente de correlación entre MCL-ANL del material de primaria fue mucho mejor que con los otros dos materiales. Conclusiones: (1) el contenido de los diferentes discursos en mandarín puede no afectar el nivel aceptable de ruido en oyentes de mandarín con audición normal; (2) el discurso seleccionado de la escuela primaria debería ser utilizado como el material de prueba en mandarín con un nivel aceptable de ruido, para evaluar los resultados de la adaptación de auxiliares auditivos.

Key Words::

• Acceptable noise level
• most comfortable level
• background noise level
• Mandarin running speech

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30772408, 30572027, 81070784), and Projects in the National Science & Technology pillar program during the Eleventh Five-year plan period (2008BAI50B01). We would like to acknowledge Prof. Wang Yunjia in the Chinese Department of Peking University, who helped us select and evaluate the Mandarin acceptable noise level materials. We would also like to express our thanks to the staff of the Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, who provided assistance in this study; we also appreciate the help of Mr. Zhou Wei, Yang Xi, and Mrs. Gong Wei, of China National Radio, in the recording of materials.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.