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[Speech audiometry with logatomes]
A Welge-Lüssen1, R Hauser, J Erdmann
1HNO-Universitätsklinik, Kantonsspital Basel, Schweiz.
Background:
Logatomes are nonsense syllables used for analyzing the confusion of phonemes by hearing impaired listeners. They can provide a precise differentiation of phonemic confusions which may be useful in the exact adjustment of programmable hearing aids.
Methods:
In this study, two lists of logatomes with 108 three-sound combinations with a structure of consonant-vowel-consonant (c-v-c) and vowel-consonant-vowel (v-c-v) were recorded on a compact disk. Twenty normally hearing adults and 28 patients with a sensorineural hearing loss were tested at a comfortable listening level of about 25 +/- 5 dB above the mean audiometric thresholds at 0,5. 1,0 and 2,0 kHz. An index of reduction of speech perception was calculated.
Results:
A significant relationship between reduction of logatome perception and pure-tone audiometric thresholds at 1,2,3, and 4 kHz was demonstrated. Moreover, it was possible to distinguish between different groups of hearing impairment.
Conclusions:
The logatome test helps to analyze specific effects that hearing loss can have on the recognition of acoustic speech signals. The logatome test may become a valuable addition to speech audiometric tests with further standardization.