Visual-neural correlate of speechreading ability in normal-hearing adults: reliability

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Previous research established a correlation between speechreading scores and the VN130 measure of visual evoked potentials.
• The reliability of this neurophysiological correlate for speechreading has not been extensively studied over extended periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the test-retest reliability of the relationship between speechreading ability and the VN130 measure in normal-hearing adults.
• To determine the stability of this cognitive-neurophysiological correlation over several months.

Main Methods:

• Twenty normal-hearing adults participated in repeated speechreading assessments (word and sentence scores) across three sessions.
• Averaged visual electroencephalic responses (AVERs) were recorded during four separate test-retest sessions to obtain VN130 measures.
• Significant time intervals (average 56 days for speechreading, 49 days for AVERs) separated the test-retest sessions.

Main Results:

• Product-moment correlations between repeated speechreading word scores and VN130 measures ranged from -.61 to -.89.
• These strong negative correlations indicate a consistent inverse relationship between neural firing time and speechreading performance.
• The findings support the stability of the observed relationship over time.

Conclusions:

• The VN130 measure demonstrates reliable test-retest stability as a correlate of speechreading ability in normal-hearing adults.
• This neurophysiological measure offers a dependable objective assessment tool for speechreading skills.
• The study validates the use of VN130 for understanding the neural underpinnings of speech perception.