The Relationship between Speech Recognition in Noise and Non-Speech Recognition in Noise Test Performances: Implications for Central Auditory Processing Disorders Testing

Publication date: Available online 21 December 2018

Source: Journal of Communication Disorders

Author(s): Andrew J. Vermiglio, Keerthana Velappan, Paige Heeke, Emery Bulla, Xiangming Fang, Elizabeth Bonilla, Elizabeth Garner, Julia Skinner

Abstract

Background

According to the American Academy of Audiology, a recommendation for frequency-modulation systems may be based upon performances on speech perception tests that do not include background noise.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the presumption that non-speech recognition in noise test results are related to speech recognition in noise ability for a group of young adults.

Research Design

Performances on the non-speech recognition in noise tests included in the SCAN 3 A test battery were compared to speech recognition in noise performances as measured with the auditory figure ground subtest of the SCAN 3 A and the Hearing in Noise Test.

Study Sample

Fifty-four young, native speakers of American English with normal pure-tone thresholds participated in the study.

Data Collection and Analysis

For the purposes of this study, the SCAN 3 A raw scores were used. The Hearing in Noise Test was administered in a simulated sound-field environment under headphones. The Spearman rho statistic was used to determine the relationships between non-speech recognition in noise vs. speech recognition in noise test results.

Results

No significant relationships were found between the auditory figure-ground results and any of the non-speech recognition in noise subtest performances. Modest but statistically significant relationships were found between the Hearing in Noise Test Composite scores vs. the competing words-directed ear and the time compressed sentences subtests of the SCAN 3 A.

Conclusion

Of the four non-speech recognition in noise subtests that were evaluated, only the competing words-directed ear and the time-compressed sentences performances were significantly correlated to the Composite scores of the Hearing in Noise Test. The results demonstrated a limited external validity for two of the four non-SRN tests for the determination of SRN ability.

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