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Published on: January 25, 2016
Identification of pseudohypacusis using speech recognition thresholds
R S Schlauch1, K D Arnce, L M Olson
1Department of Communication Disorders, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Ear and Hearing
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Procedural variations significantly impact pure-tone average-spondee threshold (PTA-SRT) agreement in pseudohypacusis. Employing ascending SRT and descending PT procedures is recommended for effective pseudohypacusis screening.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Pseudohypacusis, or feigned hearing loss, presents diagnostic challenges in audiology.
- Variations in pure-tone threshold (PT) and speech reception threshold (SRT) measurement procedures can influence test results.
- Understanding these procedural effects is crucial for accurate hearing loss assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different procedural variations affect the agreement between pure-tone average (PTA) and spondee threshold (SRT) in individuals feigning hearing loss (pseudohypacusis).
- To develop a theoretical explanation for observed threshold discrepancies.
- To create an effective screening tool for identifying pseudohypacusis based on PTA-SRT differences.
Main Methods:
- Normally hearing participants simulated hearing loss.
- Three experimental groups were tested with varying combinations of ascending and descending procedures for pure-tone testing and SRT measurement.
- Data were analyzed to compare PTA-SRT agreement across different procedural conditions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in PTA-SRT agreement were observed across the three procedural groups (mean differences of 10.6 dB, 2.3 dB, and 41.6 dB).
- A two-frequency PTA was found to be more effective for identifying pseudohypacusis than a three-frequency PTA in cooperative patients with actual hearing loss.
- Results suggest a 'loudness bias' influencing threshold measurements.
Conclusions:
- Procedural variations, particularly the direction of testing (ascending vs. descending), significantly influence PTA-SRT agreement.
- A loudness bias appears to contribute to the observed discrepancies.
- Recommends using an ascending procedure for SRT and a descending procedure for PT thresholds to enhance the effectiveness of pseudohypacusis screening tests.
