Evaluation of four Spanish word-recognition-ability lists

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Standardized word recognition tests are crucial for assessing hearing ability.
• Limited availability of validated Spanish language speech discrimination tests hinders clinical practice.
• Existing studies on Spanish word recognition tests have notable limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a commercially available Spanish word recognition test for clinical use.
• To assess interlist equivalence, word difficulty, talker intelligibility, and performance/intensity function slope.
• To identify potential linguistic or demographic factors influencing test performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized four lists of 50 bisyllabic, tetraphonemic Spanish words recorded by a native speaker.
• Administered the test to 16 normal-hearing native Spanish-speaking adults at four presentation levels.
• Analyzed intelligibility scores, interlist differences, and demographic influences (Mexican origin vs. other nationalities).

Main Results:

• List three demonstrated significantly lower intelligibility compared to other lists (p < 0.05).
• Subjects of Mexican origin scored higher than other nationalities at lower presentation levels.
• The slope of the performance/intensity function (4.3%) was consistent with English-language test findings.
• Frequently missed words often contained the /s/ sound, particularly those retaining meaning when the final /s/ was omitted.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated Spanish word recognition test requires refinement, particularly list three.
• Demographic factors and phonemic challenges (e.g., /s/ sound) may impact test results.
• Further research is needed to develop and validate culturally and linguistically appropriate speech recognition materials for Spanish speakers.