Word-In-Noise Perception Test in Adults 

Abstract

Background The recently designed Word-in-noise Perception (WINP) test is a new technique for examining lexical-semantic scores by homotonic-monosyllabic words (HMWs) and white noise, which assesses auditory brain function in speech consonant detection. It is necessary to have a test that creates the best competitive conditions for evaluating meaning perception. Therefore, this study aimed to design a WINP test for adults using HMWs and spectrum speech noise (SSN). Methodology: This study was a test-development type that was conducted in a cross-sectional-comparative way, it included 110 young Persian speakers (61 men and 49 women) with mean age of 20 (0.56) years. The evaluations included checking the state of general health, sleep and mental states, basic audiological evaluations, dichotic digit test and WINP test using HMWs and SNN. HMWs consisted of 6 lists of 25 words with a vowel/consonant/vowel pattern, the words in each list have the same vowel. The content validity of HMWs was confirmed by 20 Persian language experts and calculated using content and index validity ratios. Its reliability was measured based on repeatability in test times, intraclass correlation coefficient and the comparison of HMWs scores in two repetitions. To calculate the norm values, the number of correct responses in the mean measurements was multiplied by 4 and expressed as a percentage. Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the scores of the groups. Results The validity and reliability of WINP test using HMWs and SSN were determined. Mean CVR and mean CVI of the HMWs were equal to 0.99 and to 0.95 respectively. ICC in single and mean measurements were also calculated. An ICC close to 1 indicates greater validity of WPS and better consistency of HMWs across lists. The results showed that the obtained scores are stable and without measurement errors. Normal values of WINP test using HMWs and SSN were gotten, which were 54%, 69%, 82%, 90% and 94% at SNRs of -5, 0, + 5, +10, and + 15 dB, respectively. The variable of gender was not an effective factor for creating a difference in the mean scores of WINP test using HMWs and SSN (P = 0.989). There was no significant difference between WINP mean scores in SNR in different noises between the right and left ears. Also, there was significant difference between mean scores of WINP in SNRs from − 5 to + 15 for left and right ears. Conclusion Psychometric properties of the WINP test using HMWs and SNN have been confirmed for Persian speaking adults.