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Objective: A simplified version of the Finnish matrix sentence test (FMST) was developed to improve the reliability of hearing diagnostic for children and for patients with limited working memory capacity and/or vocabulary. Design: Study 1 evaluated the word matrix of the Finnish simplified matrix sentence test (FINSIMAT) to rule out systematic differences between the new FINSIMAT test lists, and to provide reference values for normal-hearing (NH) young adults (YA). In Study 2, the FINSIMAT and the FMST were evaluated in elderly listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment (HI). Study sample: Twenty NH YAs participated in Study 1, and 16 elderly HI adults participated in Study 2. Results: For NH YAs, the reference speech reception threshold (SRT50) estimate and the slope for the FINSIMAT were −11.2 ± 1.0 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 19.4 ± 1.9%/dB SNR. For the elderly HI listeners, the mean SRT50 estimates for the FINSIMAT and FMST were −4.1 and −3.6 dB SNR, respectively. The correlation between the FMST and FINSIMAT results was strong (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The FINSIMAT showed comparable characteristics to the FMST and proved feasible for measurements in elderly HI listeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop a reliable and easily accessible screening test for primary detection of hearing impairment. Methods: Digits 0-9 were used to form quasirandom digit triplets. First, digit specific intelligibility functions and speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) were determined. To homogenize the test material digits with steep intelligibility function slopes were chosen and level correction up to ±2 dB were applied to the digits as needed. Evaluation measurements were performed to check for systematic differences in intelligibility between the test lists and to obtain normative reference function for normal-hearing listeners. Results: The mean SRT and the final slope of the test lists were -10.8 ± 0.1 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 21.7 ± 1.8%/dB, respectively (measurements at constant level; inter-list variability). The mean SRT and slope of the test subjects were -10.8 ± 0.5 dB SNR and 23.4 ± 5.2%/dB (measurements at constant level; inter-subject variability). The mean SRT for normal-hearing young adults for a single adaptive measurement is -9.8 ± 0.9 dB SNR. Conclusion: The Finnish digit triplet test is the first self-screening hearing test in the Finnish language. It was developed according to current standards, and it provides reliable and internationally comparable speech intelligibility measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The Finnish Matrix Test is the first sentence test in noise for the Finnish language. It was developed according to the HearCom standards and provides reliable speech intelligibility measurements with highly comparable results with the other international matrix tests. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop an accurate speech intelligibility test in noise for the Finnish language that is comparable across different languages. Methods: We chose a matrix sentence test, which comprises a base matrix of 10 names, verbs, numerals, adjectives and nouns. Test lists were formed from this matrix quasi randomly, providing test sentences of the same syntactical structure. The speech material corresponds to everyday spoken language and the phoneme distribution is representative of the Finnish language. The test was optimized by determining the speech recognition thresholds of the individual words and subsequently by applying level corrections of up to ±3 dB. Evaluation measurements were performed to check the equivalence of the different test lists with respect to speech intelligibility and to provide reference values for further clinical applications. Results: After training, the mean speech recognition threshold (SRT) and the slope of the final test lists were -10.1 ± 0.1 dB signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR)and 16.7 ± 1.2%/dB, respectively (measurements at constant level; inter-list variability). The mean SRT and the slope of the test subjects were -10.1 ± 0.7 dB SNR and 17.5 ± 2.2%/dB (measurements at constant level; inter-subject variability). The expected SRT range for normal-hearing young adults for adaptive measurements is -9.7 ± 0.7 dB SNR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A review is given of internationally comparable speech-in-noise tests for hearing screening purposes that were part of the European HearCom project. This report describes the development, optimization, and evaluation of such tests for headphone and telephone presentation, using the example of the German digit triplet test. In order to achieve the highest possible comparability, language- and speaker-dependent factors in speech intelligibility should be compensated for. Materials and methods: The tests comprise spoken numbers in background noise and estimate the speech reception threshold (SRT), i.e. the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) yielding 50% speech intelligibility. Results: The respective reference speech intelligibility functions for headphone and telephone presentation of the German version for 15 and 10 normal-hearing listeners are described by a SRT of −9.3 ± 0.2 and −6.5 ± 0.4 dB SNR, and slopes of 19.6 and 17.9%/dB, respectively. Reference speech intelligibility functions of all digit triplet tests optimized within the HearCom project allow for investigation of the comparability due to language specificities. Conclusions: The optimization criteria established here should be used for similar screening tests in other languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]