Article
Development of a table for the determination of a percentage hearing loss in noise to use in the ENT medical estimate of hearing
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Published: | July 6, 2010 |
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Introduction: For the ENT medical estimate of hearing the Königsteiner Merkblatt is the currently used guideline. In the determination of the hearing loss followed by the reduction in earning capacity only measurements in silence are included. Measurement in silence cannot reflect the constraints of people with marginal hearing loss in noisy environment.
Methods: Within the Audiologie Initiative Niedersachsen (AIN) it is proposed to include speech intelligibility test in noise into the determination procedure. Therefore the Göttingen sentence test in noise is taken in addition to the routine measurement for the medical estimate in hearing. At a constant noise level of 65dB the fifty percent speech understanding (L50 [dB SNR]) is determined adaptively.
Results: Using the data base of 158 patients a table was developed, which assigns the fifty percent speech understanding to a percentage hearing loss for speech in noise. For the assignment the statistical spread of the data was analyzed respecting an adequate assessment of people with marginal hearing loss.
Conclusion: With the new developed table an appropriate hearing loss for speech in noise for all hearing classes is defined. By using a simple calculation rule it can be included in the assessment for reduction in earning capacity in addition to the hearing loss for speech in silence.