Study on the Reliability and the Validity for the Sentence-in-Noise Scores at the Fixed Signal-to-Noise Ratios

Kim, Na Kyung; Yi, Dongwoon; Bahng, Junghwa; Lee, Jae Hee

doi:2017.13.1.62

Audiology and Speech Research > Volume 13(1); 2017 > Article

Research Paper

Audiology and Speech Research 2017;13(1): 62-69.
Published online: January 31, 2017.
doi: http://doi.org/10.21848/asr.2017.13.1.62

고정된 신호대잡음비에서의 소음 하 문장인지도의 신뢰도와 타당도에 관한 연구

김나경^1,2, 이동운², 방정화², 이재희²

¹금강보청기 안산센터
²한림국제대학원대학교 청각학과

Study on the Reliability and the Validity for the Sentence-in-Noise Scores at the Fixed Signal-to-Noise Ratios

Na Kyung Kim^1,2, Dongwoon Yi², Junghwa Bahng², Jae Hee Lee²

¹Keumgang Hearing Aids Center of Ansan, Ansan, Korea
²Department of Audiology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence

Jae Hee Lee ,Tel: +82-2-2051-2492, Fax: +82-2-3453-6618, Email: leejaehee@hallym.ac.kr

Received: January 31, 2017; Revised: January 31, 2017 Accepted: January 31, 2017. Published online: January 31, 2017.

ABSTRACT

Purpose:
Speech understanding in the background noise is one of the common complaints of listeners with hearing loss. Since the routine speech audiometry conducted in quiet usually does not provide sufficient information about a listener’s everyday communication ability, the importance of sentence-in-noise recognition tests has been emphasized. Given a limited adaptive sentence-in-noise test in Korea, the ability of sentence-in-noise recognition has been evaluated at a fixed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For the efficient and reliable diagnosis using the Korean Matrix Sentences, it is necessary to analyze the reliability and the validity of the materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the sentence-in-noise recognition scores at fixed SNRs.
Method:
Fourteen subjects with bilaterally symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss participated. All the listeners have used bilateral hearing aids, and their aided puretone threshold average was 38 dB HL. The materials of the Korean Standard Sentence Lists for Adults (KS-SL-A) and the Korean Matrix sentences were presented at 80 dB SPL through loudspeakers while wearing listener’s hearing aids. Listeners’ sentence recognition score was measured in quiet and three noise conditions (6, 3, 0 dB SNRs) at 10-week interval. The Korean Hearing in Noise Test was also administered for the purpose of validity test.
Results:
The results exhibited the strong test-retest reliability for each material, regardless of listening conditions (quiet, 6, 3, 0 dB SNR). The concurrent validity of each material was also determined between results of the KS-SL-A and the Korean Matrix sentences. However, some subjects could not recognize sentences in noise for the KS-SL-A and the K-HINT tests, indicating difficulty in adjusting test level.
Conclusion:
When evaluated at the fixed SNRs, the sentence-in-noise scores of the Korean Matrix sentences showed a good test-retest reliability test-retest reliability and concurrent validity. More studies are needed to determine the reliability and the validity for the materials of adaptive sentence-in-noise tests.

Key Words: Sentence-in-noise recognition, Speech audiometry, Signal-to-noise ratio, Sentence recognition score.