Giuseppina Emma Puglisi1, Anna Warzybok2, Sabine Hochmuth2, Chiara Visentin3, Arianna Astolfi1, Nicola Prodi3, Birger Kollmeier4. 1. a * Department of Energy , Politecnico di Torino , Torino , Italy. 2. b Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, and Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all , Oldenburg , Germany. 3. c Department of Engineering , Università di Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy. 4. d Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, and HörTech gGmbH , Oldenburg , Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Development of an Italian matrix sentence test for the assessment of speech intelligibility in noise. DESIGN: The development of the test included the selection, recording, optimization with level adjustment, and evaluation of speech material. The training effect was assessed adaptively during the evaluation measurements with six lists of 20 sentences, using open- and closed-set response formats. Reference data were established for normal-hearing listeners with adaptive measurements. Equivalence of the test lists was investigated using the open-set response format at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 55 normal-hearing Italian mother-tongue listeners. RESULTS: The evaluation measurements at fixed SNRs resulted in a mean speech reception threshold (SRT) of -7.3 ± 0.2 dB SNR and slope of 13.3 ± 1.2 %/dB. The major training effect of 1.5 dB was observed for the first two consecutive measurements. Mean SRTs of -6.7 ± 0.7 dB SNR and -7.4 ± 0.7 dB SNR were found from the third to the sixth adaptive measurement for open- and closed-set test response formats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A good agreement has been found between the SRTs and slope and those of other matrix tests. Since sentences are difficult to memorize, the Italian matrix test is suitable for repeated measurements.
OBJECTIVE: Development of an Italian matrix sentence test for the assessment of speech intelligibility in noise. DESIGN: The development of the test included the selection, recording, optimization with level adjustment, and evaluation of speech material. The training effect was assessed adaptively during the evaluation measurements with six lists of 20 sentences, using open- and closed-set response formats. Reference data were established for normal-hearing listeners with adaptive measurements. Equivalence of the test lists was investigated using the open-set response format at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 55 normal-hearing Italian mother-tongue listeners. RESULTS: The evaluation measurements at fixed SNRs resulted in a mean speech reception threshold (SRT) of -7.3 ± 0.2 dB SNR and slope of 13.3 ± 1.2 %/dB. The major training effect of 1.5 dB was observed for the first two consecutive measurements. Mean SRTs of -6.7 ± 0.7 dB SNR and -7.4 ± 0.7 dB SNR were found from the third to the sixth adaptive measurement for open- and closed-set test response formats, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A good agreement has been found between the SRTs and slope and those of other matrix tests. Since sentences are difficult to memorize, the Italian matrix test is suitable for repeated measurements.
Authors: Ilaria Giallini; Maria Nicastri; Bianca M S Inguscio; Ginevra Portanova; Giuseppe Magliulo; Antonio Greco; Patrizia Mancini Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-05-20