A Survey of U.S. Audiologists' Speech-in-Noise Testing Practice Patterns for Adults

Speech-in-noise (SIN) testing can be beneficial for both assessment and treatment of hearing loss in adults. Previous survey studies have suggested that SIN testing is underutilized among U.S. audiologists, but there are limited data on attitudes, facilitators, and barriers to SIN testing. The purpose of this study was to characterize SIN testing practice patterns for adults through a comprehensive survey.

This study utilized an anonymous online survey in Qualtrics. Eligible respondents were licensed U.S. audiologists who performed diagnostic testing on adults. Survey questions included demographics, patient populations seen, and SIN testing practices. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and associations.

A total of 275 completed responses were analyzed. Most respondents reported high confidence in selecting, performing, and interpreting SIN testing. Most also reported high clinical usefulness of SIN testing. Approximately half of respondents reported frequent usage of SIN testing, but usage depended on workplace setting. Validating patient reports of SIN difficulties was the most common reason for conducting SIN testing, while lack of time was the most common barrier. Confidence in performing SIN testing was significantly correlated with perceived clinical usefulness of SIN testing.

Results suggest high confidence and frequent use of SIN testing in this sample of U.S. audiologists. Results also suggest that SIN testing may be used more for assessment than treatment (e.g., verifying outcomes with amplification). However, biases including self-selection bias and social desirability bias cannot be ruled out. Despite this, our characterization of practice patterns, facilitators, and barriers will contribute to future studies and solutions to better incorporate clinical use of SIN testing.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.33426493.