Digit speech recognition threshold (SRT) in children with normal hearing ages 5-8 years.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Speech recognition threshold (SRT) testing is crucial for assessing hearing ability in children.
• Traditional spondee words are commonly used, but alternatives are explored for efficiency and applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of digit stimuli versus pediatric word stimuli for SRT measurement in children with normal hearing.
• To investigate the influence of different increment sizes on SRT outcomes using a descending method.

Main Methods:

• Speech recognition threshold was measured using paired digit stimuli (D-SRT) and pediatric word stimuli (W-SRT) in 30 typically developing children (ages 5-8).
• Two step sizes (5 dB and 2 dB) were employed, and SRT results were compared to pure-tone average (PTA) thresholds.
• Tests were administered to both ears, and data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, and regression analyses.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was found in D-SRT and W-SRT based on the increment size used (2 dB vs. 5 dB).
• D-SRT demonstrated a high correlation with W-SRT (r = .49-.72) in both ears.
• Prediction of hearing threshold from PTA was equally accurate for both digit and spondee stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Paired digit stimuli are an appropriate and effective alternative for SRT measurement in children with normal hearing.
• These findings have implications for diagnostic audiology, potentially extending to other pediatric populations.