Andrea Hillock-Dunn1, Crystal Taylor, Emily Buss, Lori J Leibold. 1. 1Department of Allied Health Sciences, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; and 2Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypothesis that word recognition in a complex, two-talker masker is more closely related to real-world speech perception for children with hearing loss than testing performed in quiet or steady-state noise. DESIGN: Sixteen school-age hearing aid users were tested on aided word recognition in noise or two-talker speech. Unaided estimates of speech perception in quiet were retrospectively obtained from the clinical record. Ten parents completed a questionnaire regarding their children's ease of communication and understanding in background noise. RESULTS: Unaided performance in quiet was correlated with aided performance in competing noise, but not in two-talker speech. Only results in the two-talker masker were correlated with parental reports of their children's functional hearing abilities. CONCLUSIONS: Speech perception testing in a complex background such as two-talker speech may provide a more accurate predictor of the communication challenges of children with hearing loss than testing in steady noise or quiet.
OBJECTIVES: This study tested the hypothesis that word recognition in a complex, two-talker masker is more closely related to real-world speech perception for children with hearing loss than testing performed in quiet or steady-state noise. DESIGN: Sixteen school-age hearing aid users were tested on aided word recognition in noise or two-talker speech. Unaided estimates of speech perception in quiet were retrospectively obtained from the clinical record. Ten parents completed a questionnaire regarding their children's ease of communication and understanding in background noise. RESULTS: Unaided performance in quiet was correlated with aided performance in competing noise, but not in two-talker speech. Only results in the two-talker masker were correlated with parental reports of their children's functional hearing abilities. CONCLUSIONS: Speech perception testing in a complex background such as two-talker speech may provide a more accurate predictor of the communication challenges of children with hearing loss than testing in steady noise or quiet.
Authors: Elizabeth A Walker; Lenore Holte; Ryan W McCreery; Meredith Spratford; Thomas Page; Mary Pat Moeller Journal: J Speech Lang Hear Res Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 2.297