Development and validation of SLPS: Slovak semantically predictable sentences

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Semantically predictable and well-balanced sentence materials are lacking in the Slovak language.
• Accurate speech-in-noise testing requires standardized, equally difficult stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a set of Slovakian sentences for speech-in-noise testing.
• To create materials with consistent difficulty at the 50% performance intensity function point.

Main Methods:

• Sentences were developed for stationary, speech-weighted noise conditions.
• Listening tests used fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and an adaptive validation method.
• Reference data collected from 85 and 37 native Slovakian adults with normal hearing.

Main Results:

• 18 sets of 10 sentences were created.
• Average speech reception threshold (SRT) in noise was -4.5 dB SNR (SD ±0.6 dB).
• Average performance intensity function slope was 14.4%/dB (SD ±3.8%/dB).

Conclusions:

• The developed Slovakian sentence test material is validated for assessing speech understanding in noise.
• This resource is suitable for diverse clinical and non-clinical applications.
• Enables reliable speech recognition evaluation in challenging auditory conditions.