Word Recognition Functions for the CID W-22 Test in Multitalker Noise for Normally Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Subjects

Abstract

Word recognition functions for Auditec recordings of the CID W-22 stimuli in multitalker noise were obtained using subjects with normal hearing and with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. In the first experiment, word recognition functions were generated by varying the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N); whereas in the second experiment, a constant S/N was used and stimulus intensity was varied. The split-half reliability of word recognition scores for the normal-hearing and hearing-impaired groups revealed variability that agreed closely with predictions based on the simple binomial distribution. Therefore, the binomial model appears appropriate for estimating the variability of word recognition scores whether they are obtained in quiet or in a competing background noise. The reliability for threshold (50% point) revealed good stability. The slope of the recognition function was steeper for normal listeners than for the hearing-impaired subjects. Word recognition testing in noise can provide insight into the problems imposed by hearing loss, particularly when evaluating patients with mild hearing loss who exhibit no difficulties with conventional tests. Clinicians should employ a sufficient number of stimuli so that the test is adequately sensitive to differences among listening conditions.

A word-recognition task in multitalker babble using a descending presentation mode from 24 dB to 0 dB signal to babble

“…In contrast to a 5 dB sensitivity hearing loss, a 5 dB HL in terms of S/B ratio is devastating and difficult to overcome. These disparate measures of speech recognition performance obtained in quiet and in background noise are found throughout the literature [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The slopes of the functions at the 50 percent correct points were 6.5%/dB and 4.5%/dB, respectively.…”

“…Patients with hearing loss often complain that they can hear but cannot understand speech, especially in the presence of background noise [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Carhart and Tillman and later Plomp and Duquesnoy emphasized that listeners with peripheral sensorineural hearing loss are most handicapped when listening in the presence of background noise [2,12]. In routine clinical practice, the ability of patients to understand speech in a noisy environment is not typically assessed [13,14].…”

Unilateral and Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss in Children: Past and Current Perspectives

“…[39][40][41][42][43] However, most of those studies included subjects with greater degrees of hearing loss than those who are the focus of this review. For example, more favorable signal-to-noise ratios are required for equivalent performance on speechperception tasks for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss than for those who have normal hearing.…”

“…For example, more favorable signal-to-noise ratios are required for equivalent performance on speechperception tasks for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss than for those who have normal hearing. 39 More recently, Crandell 44 examined the speech-recognition ability of school-aged children with minimal sensorineural hearing loss (thresholds between 15 and 30 dB bilaterally) and children with normal hearing. The speech-recognition scores of the children with hearing loss were significantly (3,6,9).…”

Use of 35 words for evaluation of hearing loss in signal-to-babble ratio: A clinic protocol

“…Degraded speech-recognition tasks, like listening in background noise, highlight the detrimental effect of this distortion component on everyday speech listening. The introduction of background noise into the wordrecognition paradigm more often than not results in substantially poorer recognition performance than when speech is presented in quiet [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. The relation between speech understanding in quiet and in noise led Plomp and Duquesnoy to state that "a hearing loss for speech in noise of 3 dB is more disturbing than a hearing loss for speech in quiet of 21 dB" [17, p. 101], and Killion to note that if you want to know how well an individual understands speech in background noise, then you must measure it [18].…”