An Italian matrix sentence test for the evaluation of speech intelligibility in noise

Abstract

Objective: Development of an Italian matrix sentence test for the assessment of speech intelligibility in noise. Design: The development of the test included the selection, recording, optimization with level adjustment, and evaluation of speech material. The training effect was assessed adaptively during the evaluation measurements with six lists of 20 sentences, using open- and closed-set response formats. Reference data were established for normal-hearing listeners with adaptive measurements. Equivalence of the test lists was investigated using the open-set response format at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Study sample: A total of 55 normal-hearing Italian mother-tongue listeners. Results: The evaluation measurements at fixed SNRs resulted in a mean speech reception threshold (SRT) of − 7.3 ± 0.2 dB SNR and slope of 13.3 ± 1.2 %/dB. The major training effect of 1.5 dB was observed for the first two consecutive measurements. Mean SRTs of − 6.7 ± 0.7 dB SNR and − 7.4 ± 0.7 dB SNR were found from the third to the sixth adaptive measurement for open- and closed-set test response formats, respectively. Conclusions: A good agreement has been found between the SRTs and slope and those of other matrix tests. Since sentences are difficult to memorize, the Italian matrix test is suitable for repeated measurements.

Key Words::

• Speech perception
• speech audiometry
• speech reception threshold
• Italian speech recognition test

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the EFRE-project HurDig and by the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All of the University of Oldenburg. The authors are grateful to Prof. Giancarlo Pecorari and Luca Raimondo for their availability in testing the pure-tone thresholds of the listeners in Torino, and for the opportunity of conducting measurements in a clinical environment. We would also like to thank Rossana Carta for the data collecting in Oldenburg.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. Birger Kollmeier serves as the scientific director of H rTech gGmbH (www.hoertech.de), a non-profit organization owned in majority by Universität Oldenburg. Copyright of the speech material is held by HörTech gGmbH.