An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Auditory Perception
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Sound localization is crucial for auditory perception but challenging to assess clinically.
• Current free-field localization tests are often examiner-dependent and lack functional interpretation guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an automated sound localization protocol with a function-oriented interpretive framework.
• To enable standardized stimulus delivery, response acquisition, and automated performance metric computation.
• To translate quantitative localization errors into clinically meaningful categories using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

Main Methods:

• Developed an automated protocol for standardized sound stimulus delivery and response acquisition via a graphical interface.
• Quantified localization performance using root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE).
• Classified outcomes using the ICF framework to interpret functional impairment levels.

Main Results:

• Normal-hearing listeners showed minimal localization errors, indicating no or mild impairment.
• Adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) exhibited greater angular errors and higher ICF-defined impairment levels.
• The automated protocol successfully facilitated reproducible and functionally relevant assessment.

Conclusions:

• The integrated automated protocol and ICF-based scale offer reproducible, examiner-independent assessment of horizontal sound localization.
• This framework provides clinically meaningful interpretation of spatial hearing deficits.
• The approach is suitable for characterizing localization performance in diverse listener groups and interventions in clinical and research settings.