Development of Telscreen: a telephone-based speech-in-noise hearing screening test with a novel masking noise and scoring procedure

Abstract

Objective: In 2006 the National Acoustic Laboratories was commissioned to create a telephone-based hearing screening test. Design: NAL developed ‘Telscreen’, a speech-in-noise test modelled on the Dutch and UK telephone tests. The first version, Telscreen I, had several novel features: individual scoring of digits; individual equalization of digit intelligibility; and accuracy-determined test termination. Evaluation of Telscreen I revealed that it did not discriminate satisfactorily between those with and without hearing impairment. Subsequently Telscreen II, which included a novel sensitized masking noise, was developed. Study sample: Telscreen I was evaluated by 105 participants (22–86 years), 37% with normal hearing (all thresholds <20 dB HL in the test ear), 63% with hearing impairment (all thresholds >20 dB HL in the test ear). Telscreen II was evaluated by 75 participants (25–86 years), 33% with normal hearing, 67% with hearing impairment. Results: Correlations between Telscreen I results and hearing thresholds, r = 0.57, and hearing disability scores, r = 0.51 were highly significant, but lower than expected. Correlations for Telscreen II were higher: r = 0.77 and 0.65, respectively. Telscreen II was found to have high sensitivity: 90%; and specificity: 90.2%. Conclusions: Telscreen II is an efficient, reliable, and innovative hearing screening test that provides a solid foundation for future tests delivered via mobile and internet technologies.

Key Words:

• Telephone
• hearing
• screening

Acknowledgements

NAL was commissioned by Australian Hearing to produce Telscreen. NAL is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

Declaration of interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.