L Hörmann1, P Ambrosch2, M Hey2. 1. Klinik für Hals‑, Nasen‑, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 27, 24105, Kiel, Deutschland. LisaMarie.Hoermann@uksh.de. 2. Klinik für Hals‑, Nasen‑, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 27, 24105, Kiel, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Logatomes, nonsensical combinations of consonants and vowels, are suitable for a precise capture and analysis of individual phonemes as fundamental modules of speech in audiometric diagnostics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to capture the audiometric characteristics of a closed-set logatome test. The slope of the discrimination function at the speech reception threshold (SRT) and the reproducibility were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A set of 102 intensity varied and randomized logatomes were presented in the form of consonant-vowel-consonant to 25 hearing unimpaired adults. The measurements were performed in a free field setting and were each repeated after a 2-week interval. The subjects were requested to repeat the heard logatome in a closed response test of 10 items per sound item on a touchscreen. RESULTS: The slope of the mean discrimination function at the SRT was on average 4%/dB; however, the mean discrimination function slope was steeper for the initial consonant than for the final one. The differences of the test and retest results at the SRT showed a standard deviation of 13% for consonants. These differences were normally distributed. There were no significant differences between test and retest. CONCLUSION: The slope of the discrimination function at the SRT appeared to be shallow but was comparable to established word tests. Finally, there was no evidence of a learning effect in the retest, which emphasizes the low redundancy of the speech material and makes it an attractive complementary option to routine audiometric diagnostics.
BACKGROUND: Logatomes, nonsensical combinations of consonants and vowels, are suitable for a precise capture and analysis of individual phonemes as fundamental modules of speech in audiometric diagnostics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to capture the audiometric characteristics of a closed-set logatome test. The slope of the discrimination function at the speech reception threshold (SRT) and the reproducibility were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A set of 102 intensity varied and randomized logatomes were presented in the form of consonant-vowel-consonant to 25 hearing unimpaired adults. The measurements were performed in a free field setting and were each repeated after a 2-week interval. The subjects were requested to repeat the heard logatome in a closed response test of 10 items per sound item on a touchscreen. RESULTS: The slope of the mean discrimination function at the SRT was on average 4%/dB; however, the mean discrimination function slope was steeper for the initial consonant than for the final one. The differences of the test and retest results at the SRT showed a standard deviation of 13% for consonants. These differences were normally distributed. There were no significant differences between test and retest. CONCLUSION: The slope of the discrimination function at the SRT appeared to be shallow but was comparable to established word tests. Finally, there was no evidence of a learning effect in the retest, which emphasizes the low redundancy of the speech material and makes it an attractive complementary option to routine audiometric diagnostics.