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SUN-test (Speech Understanding in Noise): A Method for Hearing Disability Screening.
A Paglialonga1, G Tognola1, F Grandori1
1CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ingegneria Biomedica , (IsIB) Milan, Italy.
Audiology Research
|November 12, 2015
Summary
The Speech Understanding in Noise (SUN) test effectively screens adults for hearing disability. This fast, easy test accurately identifies listening difficulties across various noise levels and age groups.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Speech-language pathology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Hearing disability is a significant issue for adults and older adults.
- Existing screening methods may have limitations in noisy environments.
- A rapid and reliable screening tool for hearing in noise is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the Speech Understanding in Noise (SUN) test for screening hearing disability in adults and older adults.
- To assess the SUN test's performance across different ambient noise levels and age groups.
- To determine the user-friendliness and time efficiency of the SUN test.
Main Methods:
- The SUN test, a speech-in-noise test using consonant-vowel-consonant stimuli in a 3-alternative forced choice paradigm, was administered to nearly 1,300 Italian adults and older adults.
- Participants were tested in both low and high ambient noise settings (up to 65 dB A).
- Test outcomes were compared with pure-tone audiometry results, and performance was analyzed across different age groups and noise levels.
Main Results:
- SUN test outcomes correlated well with pure-tone audiometry findings.
- Test performance remained consistent in both low and high ambient noise conditions.
- Age did not significantly impact test performance, with similar results in younger and older adults.
- The mean test duration was approximately 40 seconds per ear, averaging under 2 minutes for both ears, even in individuals over 80.
- Nearly 90% of subjects found the test easy or slightly difficult, and over 90% rated the overall experience as pleasant or neutral.
Conclusions:
- The SUN test is a feasible, fast, and user-friendly tool for adult hearing screening.
- Its reliability is not affected by ambient noise levels, making it suitable for diverse clinical and non-clinical settings.
- The SUN test effectively differentiates hearing sensitivity and can be a valuable addition to hearing healthcare services.
