Applicability and Normative Data for an Arabic Matrix Sentence Test for Speech Recognition in Noise

A matrix sentence test in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) was developed with a multicenter approach to ensure high acceptability of the speech material. Normative values were obtained at four study sites located in the Persian Gulf region. Test characteristics were compared to other matrix sentence tests.

Forty-one native Arabic-speaking adults with normal hearing participated in two test development studies, 22 of whom participated in the normative study of the Arabic matrix sentence test. Speech intelligibility scores for individual words and test lists were obtained to optimize word materials and to verify equivalence of test lists, respectively. Normative speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) for adaptive test conduction were also obtained.

Optimization of the test material with regard to homogeneous speech intelligibility of the individual words resulted in equivalent test lists with a mean SRT of -7.2 ± 0.2 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) standard deviation (SD) and a slope at SRT of 13.3 ± 1.1%/dB. A mean SRT of -6.7 ± 1.1 dB SNR was obtained for adaptive SRT estimation. In addition, a training effect similar to matrix sentence tests in other languages was found.

With respect to homogeneity across individual words and test lists, as well as to normal-hearing SRT values and the slope of the discrimination function, the Arabic matrix sentence test achieves reproducible, efficient, and internationally comparable speech recognition data for native Arabic-speaking listeners.