Evaluating Hearing Status and Word Recognition Ability in the Hmong Population Using Four Validated Monosyllabic White Hmong Dialect Word Recognition Tests

Abstract

Purpose: The study's aims were (a) to evaluate hearing status and (b) word recognition ability of Hmong speakers using four validated monosyllabic word recognition tests in the White Hmong dialect and (c) to assess the relationship between the participant's language and the average word recognition percent correct scores, adjusting for age, gender, and degree of hearing loss. Method: Participants listened to two randomly assigned validated Hmong word lists (male/female talker) for each ear. Pure-tone air- and bone-conduction thresholds as well as word recognition ability were measured. Descriptive statistics were calculated to analyze the percent correct of word lists and classify hearing status. A nonparametric regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the participant's language and the average word recognition percent correct scores, adjusting for age, gender, and degree of hearing loss. Results: Forty-eight Hmong (25 females, 23 males; M age = 44.4) participated in this study. Thirty-three participants had hearing loss in at least one ear, and 15 had hearing within normal limits bilaterally. Participants with normal, mild, or steeply sloping hearing loss reached an average word recognition score of > 94% on Hmong lists by both male and female talkers. Participants with moderate-to-severe hearing loss scored 68% on average for the male talker Hmong lists and 60% on average for the female talker Hmong lists. Gender was significantly positively associated with average word recognition percent correct on the female word lists ( b = −0.224, p = .047) but not statistically significant for the male word lists ( b = 7.579, p = .141). Conclusion: Findings provide support for the use of the four Hmong word lists in clinical settings.