Speech-in-Noise Test results of compensation claimants for noise induced hearing loss in Korean male workers: Words-in-Noise Test (WIN) and quick-Hearing-in-Noise Test (HINT)
- Abstract
- Background: Pure-tone audiometry is used as a gold standard for hearing measurement. However, since communication in the work environment occurs in noise, it might be difficult to evaluate the actual communication ability accurately based on pure-tone audiometry only. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate speech intelligibility in noisy environments by using Speech-in-Noise Tests and to check its relationship with pure-tone audiometry.
Methods: From January 2017 to September 2018, for 362 workers who visited a university hospital for the purpose of compensating for noise-induced hearing loss, several tests were conducted: pure-tone audiometry, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination score, and Speech-in-Noise Tests (Words-in-Noise Test [WIN] and quick-Hearing-in-Noise Test [quick-HINT]). The subjects were classified into serviceable hearing group and non-serviceable hearing group based on 40 dB hearing level (HL) pure-tone average. In both groups, we conducted age-adjusted partial correlation analysis in order to find out the relationship between pure-tone threshold, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination score and WIN and quick-HINT respectively.
Results: In non-serviceable hearing group, all results of partial correlation analysis were statistically significant. However, in serviceable hearing group, there were many results which showed little or no significant relationship between pure-tone threshold and Speech-in-Noise Tests (WIN and quick-HINT).
Conclusions: The relationship between Speech-in-Noise Tests and the pure-tone thresholds were different by the hearing impairment levels; in mild to moderate hearing loss workers, there was little or no relationship; in severe cases, the relationship was significant. It is not enough to predict the speech intelligibility of hearing-impaired persons, especially in mild to moderate level, with pure-tone audiometry only. Therefore, it would be recommended to conduct Speech-in-Noise Test.
- Author(s)
- 권중근; 김남정; 김지수; 이지호
- Issued Date
- 2021
- Type
- Article
- Keyword
- Noise-induced hearing loss; Pure-tone threshold; Speech intelligibility; 예방의학
- DOI
- 10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e11
- URI
- https://oak.ulsan.ac.kr/handle/2021.oak/7925
https://ulsan-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_cdi_nrf_kci_oai_kci_go_kr_ARTI_9838187&context=PC&vid=ULSAN&lang=ko_KR&search_scope=default_scope&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,Speech-in-Noise%20Test%20results%20of%20compensation%20claimants%20for%20noise%20induced%20hearing%20loss%20in%20Korean%20male%20workers:%20Words-in-Noise%20Test%20(WIN)%20and%20quick-Hearing-in-Noise%20Test%20(HINT)&offset=0&pcAvailability=true
- Publisher
- Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Location
- 대한민국
- Language
- 한국어
- ISSN
- 1225-3618
- Citation Volume
- 33
- Citation Number
- e11
- Citation Start Page
- 1
- Citation End Page
- 11
-
Appears in Collections:
- Medicine > Medicine
- Authorize & License
-
- Files in This Item:
-
Items in Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.