[Analysis of disyllabic mandarin speech test results of normal hearing persons with different ages]

To valuate test results of normal hearing persons with different ages using disyllabic mandarin speech test materials (MSTMs). Obtaining speech recognition threshold (SRT) and P-I function of different ages as clinical reference of hearing recovery and individual's ability to perceive and process speech.

One hundred and twenty subjects with normal hearing who speak mandarin well in their daily lives were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups (18-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years old). Nine lists of disyllabic mandarin speech test materials with equal difficulty were utilized to test each age group.

There are good agreement between SRT and mean PTA thresholds (at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz) in each age group. PTA thresholds have little change as age increasing in age group 18-30, 31-40 and 41-50 (P > 0.05). PTA threshold of age group 51-60 increases more apparently compared with the other three groups (P < 0.01). SRT thresholds of each age group increase as age increasing (P < 0.05) and SRT threshold of age group 51-60 increases more apparently (P < 0.01). Slopes of P-I function in each age group are 5.8%/dB, 4.7%/dB, 3.8%/dB, 2.9%/dB respectively.

Nine lists of disyllabic MSTMs were used to test normal hearing persons in different ages and SRT and P-I function of four different age groups were obtained. As age increases, SRT increases and slope of P-1 functions decreases. PTA and SRT thresholds of age group 51-60 increase more apparently. The SRT and P-I functions provide reference data of normal hearing for utilizing of disyllabic mandarin speech test materials clinically.