Digit-in-Noise Test as a Hearing Screening Test for Individuals With Intellectual Disability
Noa Shmerler1,2, Leah Fostick1,2, Ronit Saban-Bezalel1
1Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|December 1, 2024
Summary
The digit-in-noise (DIN) test, specifically the DIN(2) version, is an effective hearing screening for adults with intellectual disability (ID). This adapted test provides accessible hearing evaluations for individuals at high risk of hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Hearing impairment often co-occurs with intellectual disability (ID), yet accessible screening is limited.
- Standard hearing tests are frequently unsuccessful due to factors preventing test completion in individuals with ID.
- There is a critical need for easily administered, local hearing screening tools for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the digit-in-noise (DIN) test and its variations for hearing screening in adults with mild to moderate ID.
- To explore correlations between participant characteristics, cognitive-linguistic abilities, and DIN test performance.
- To identify the most suitable DIN test version for this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Forty adults with ID (aged 21-40) and 20 typically developed (TD) controls participated.
- Participants completed the original DIN test (DIN(3)), followed by a two-digit version (DIN(2)) if needed.
- Modified versions with visual and verbal feedback were administered to those unable to complete DIN(3) or DIN(2).
Main Results:
- The DIN(2) version showed a significant difference in speech receptive threshold in noise (SRTn) for the ID group compared to DIN(3).
- DIN(2) SRTn correlated moderately negatively with vocabulary and positively with age in the ID group.
- DIN(2) SRTn demonstrated a correlation with pure-tone audiometry hearing levels.
Conclusions:
- The DIN(2) version proved most effective, with SRTn thresholds closest to the TD control group.
- This study represents a foundational step in developing accessible hearing screening for individuals with ID.
- Adapted DIN(2) is a viable hearing screening tool for adults with mild to moderate ID.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Intellectual Disability
38
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
38
01:23Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
1.2K
Alfred Binet, along with his student Théophile Simon, was tasked by the French Ministry of Education in 1904 to create a method for identifying students who struggled to learn through conventional classroom instruction. This initiative aimed to address overcrowding by placing such students in specialized schools. Binet and Simon developed an intelligence test comprising 30 tasks, ranging from simple commands, like touching one's nose or ear, to more complex tasks, such as drawing...
1.2K