Article
Integration of a speech intelligibility test in noise in a new concept for the medical assessment of an occupational noise-induced hearing loss
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Authors
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Helga Sukowski
- Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, Germany
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Cornelia Thiele
- Hörzentrum Hannover an der MHH, Hannover, Germany
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Kirsten C. Wagener
- Hörzentrum Oldenburg, Germany
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Thomas Brand
- Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, Germany
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Anke Lesinski-Schiedat
- Hörzentrum Hannover an der MHH, Hannover, Germany
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Birger Kollmeier
- Medizinische Physik, Universität Oldenburg, Germany; Hörzentrum Oldenburg, Germany
| Published: | July 6, 2010 |
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Outline
Text
In Germany, the quantitative assessment of an occupational noise-induced hearing loss is mainly based on the Freiburg speech test [1] in silence (Königsteiner Merkblatt [2]). This approach has often been criticised, because it does not appropriately cover the problems of people with a slight hearing loss in everyday life listening situations.
In the research project “Audiologie-Initiative Niedersachsen” the following modifications are proposed: (1) Replacement of the Freiburg number test and the Freiburg monosyllabic test with the Göttingen sentence test [3] in silence and the monosyllabic rhyme test by von Wallenberg and Kollmeier [4] in silence, respectively. (2) Extension of the procedure by an additional speech intelligibility test in noise using the Göttingen sentence test and a stationary masking noise. (3) Adoption of questionnaires on the psychosocial consequences of the hearing impairment and on the occupational listening requirements.
In order to integrate speech intelligibility in noise into the existing calculation rules different calculation models were tested based on the results from 129 participants. Thereby a consideration of the percentage of hearing loss for “speech in noise” and “speech in silence” with equal contributions of 50% each was shown to be the most appropriate fitting model.
Recording speech intelligibility in noise is a direct way to assess the real listening problems of persons with a slight hearing loss. Therefore the new concept to quantify noise-induced hearing loss has the potential to replace additional calculation rules (“weighted overall intelligibility”, consideration of the tone audiogram) in these cases.
Supported by MWK “Audiologie-Initiative Niedersachsen”, V2.22 04032
References
- 1.
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- 2.
- Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften (ed). Königsteiner Merkblatt. Empfehlungen des Hauptverbandes der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften für die Begutachtung der beruflichen Lärmschwerhörigkeit. 4. Aufl. St. Augustin; 1996.
- 3.
- Kollmeier B, Wesselkamp M. Development and evaluation of a German sentence test for objective and subjective speech intelligibility assessment. J Acoust Soc Am. 1997;102:2412-21.
- 4.
- Wallenberg EL von, Kollmeier B. Sprachverständlichkeitsmessungen für die Audiologie mit einem Reimtest in deutscher Sprache: Erstellung und Evaluation von Testlisten. Audiol Akustik. 1989;28:50-65.
