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An Automated Speech-in-Noise Test for Remote Testing: Development and Preliminary Evaluation.
Alessia Paglialonga1, Edoardo Maria Polo2,3, Marco Zanet2
1Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, National Research Council of Italy, Milan.
American Journal of Audiology
|September 18, 2020
Summary
A new automated speech-in-noise test accurately estimates speech recognition thresholds (SRT) for hearing screening. This reliable and quick test is viable for remote and in-situ use across diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Hearing Science
Background:
- Accurate hearing screening is crucial for early detection and intervention.
- Existing speech-in-noise tests can be time-consuming and require specialized settings.
- A need exists for accessible, automated tools for widespread hearing assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel, automated speech-in-noise test.
- To assess the test's viability for in situ and remote hearing screening.
- To determine the test's accuracy, reliability, and efficiency in diverse populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized vowel-consonant-vowel stimuli in a consonant discrimination task.
- Developed a novel adaptive staircase procedure based on estimated stimulus intelligibility.
- Assessed performance in young adults with normal hearing and unscreened adults (native/nonnative English speakers).
Main Results:
- The automated test accurately estimated speech recognition thresholds (SRT) compared to conventional methods.
- Demonstrated high test-retest repeatability (r = .84) and reliable pass/fail outcomes (κ = .8).
- The test accurately identified ears with hearing loss (> 25 dB HL) with 82% accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The developed automated speech-in-noise test is accurate, reliable, and efficient for hearing screening.
- The test is viable across diverse linguistic backgrounds and age groups.
- Further validation in larger, multilingual populations is recommended for optimal screening criteria.
