[In adaptive measurement: Shortened Freiburg monosyllabic test vs. Oldenburg sentence test in noise]

The Freiburg speech test is based on an absolute percentage, non-adaptive measurement method for determining speech intelligibility. Adaptive level control makes it possible to precisely and efficiently determine the 50 % speech intelligibility threshold (50 %-SVS) by individually adjusting the speech sound level. Memmeler et al. already successfully conducted the Freiburg monosyllabic test adaptively in noise (aFBE-S) and developed a shortened version based on existing data. The aim of this study was to test the practical applicability of the shortened aFBE-S with 3, 4 and 5 test lists and to compare it with the adaptive Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA-S).40 otologically healthy subjects (18-30 years) took part. They completed the aFBE-S with 3, 4 and 5 test lists and the OLSA-S in random order. The averaged signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), the time required and the influence of gender and order of measurements were investigated.There were no significant differences between the SNR values of the shortened aFBE-S with 3, 4 and 5 test lists and those of the OLSA-S. There were also no significant differences between the results of the aFBE-S with 3, 4 and 5 test lists. The order and gender did not influence the results. The performance of the shortened aFBE-S was significantly faster than that of the OLSA-S and showed less variability.Compared to the OLSA-S, the shortened aFBE-S with 3, 4 and 5 test lists provides comparable SNR values in a shorter test time. The aFBE-S with 3 test lists proves to be sufficient and can be recommended for clinical practice.