Predicting Speech Discrimination from the Audiometric Thresholds

Abstract

To develop a method for predicting a speech discrimination score (SDS) from audiometric thresholds (SRT and pure-tones) three prediction systems were investigated: a stepwise multiple regression procedure, smear-and-sweep analysis and a clinical classification of the audiometric configuration. Test results of 529 ears with sensorineural hearing loss were taken from copies of audiograms obtained as part of a normal audiology clinic caseload. The three prediction systems had similar predictive ability and yielded slightly higher correlations with the SDS than those in previously reported studies. Squared correlations in this study ranged from 0.58 to 0.60. Smear-and-sweep analysis yielded the best results; however, its complexity makes clinical application difficult at this time. The stepwise multiple regression models or the clinical classification system provided more clinically useful methods for predicting the SDS. An over-riding influence of increasing variability in the SDS with increased hearing loss was observed and significantly limited the accuracy of prediction for the moderate-to-severe hearing loss groups. Small changes in the slope of the audiometric configuration were noted to affect the SDS only when the degree of hearing loss was slight.

Reconhecimento de fala no ruído em jovens e idosos com perda auditiva

“…Há uma relação pobre entre limiares auditivos tonais e inteligibilidade de fala em portadores de perda auditiva neurossensorial, pois, outros fatores podem interferir no desempenho dos sujeitos 9 .…”

“…O número de erros encontrado no grupo com audição normal (8,55) não diferiu do resultado encontrado por Mantelatto (1998) 19 em condições semelhantes de teste (9,45).…”

“…Existe uma relação relativamente pobre entre limiares auditivos tonais e inteligibilidade de fala para indivíduos portadores da perda auditiva neurossensorial. Provavelmente, outros fatores, além da sensibilidade auditiva, interferem na percepção de fala 9 .…”

Longitudinal Study of Human Hearings: Its Relationship to Noise and Other Factors. 3. Results from the First Five Years

“…In addition, the threshold at 2 kHz is closely associated with speech discrimination scores (Yoshioka and Thornton, 1980). Such data are, however, ear and speech perception level dependent.…”

“…Also normal speech discrimination scores of 86 to 100% may occur as long as AC thresholds remain below an average of 40 dB at 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz (Yoshioka and Thornton, 1980;Jerger and Jordan, 1980;Thompson and Hoel, 19b2). However, high frequency hearing loss causes difficulty in speech in a noisy environment (Quist-Hanssen et al, 1979).…”