Efficient hearing screening in noise-exposed listeners using the digit triplet test

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Occupational Health
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Traditional pure-tone audiometry for occupational hearing screening is time-consuming and requires specialized equipment and settings.
• A need exists for efficient, accessible screening methods for high-frequency hearing loss, common in noise-exposed individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Digit Triplet Speech-In-Noise (SPIN) test for detecting high-frequency hearing loss.
• To assess the Digit Triplet SPIN test's suitability for occupational medicine screening and its performance across different language versions.

Main Methods:

• 118 noise-exposed workers completed French or Dutch versions of the Digit Triplet self-test in a standard office environment.
• Pure-tone thresholds, measured by an audiologist in optimal conditions, served as the reference standard.

Main Results:

• A strong linear correlation (R=0.86) was observed between the Digit Triplet test and pure-tone averages at 2-6 kHz for Dutch speakers.
• Sensitivity and specificity for mild high-frequency hearing loss were 92% and 89%, respectively, with a high area under the ROC curve (≥0.91).
• The test demonstrated low measurement error (0.8 dB standard deviation) and similar trends in French-speaking participants.

Conclusions:

• The Digit Triplet test exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for identifying various degrees of high-frequency hearing loss.
• Its ease of use makes it highly suitable for occupational hearing screening and potentially for adolescents at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.