The Relationship between Speech Perception in Quiet and in Noise for Young Adults with Pure-Tone Thresholds ≤ 25 dB HL.

Background:  The standard audiological protocol utilizes quiet measures. However, it has been noted that speech recognition in noise (SRN) testing provides information that cannot be inferred from quiet measures.

Purpose:  The purpose of this convergent validity study was to investigate the relationships between behavioral responses in quiet and in noise.

Research design:  Bilateral pure-tone averages (BPTA) were calculated for thresholds from 500 to 6000 Hz. The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) thresholds in quiet (HINT-Q) were also measured. SRN performances were determined using the HINT Noise Front (HINT-F) condition and the AzBio test. The HINT-F uses steady-state speech-shaped noise and the AzBio uses a 10-talker babble. All conditions were randomized.

Study sample:  Fifty young, native English-speaking females with pure-tone thresholds less than or equal to 25 dB HL participated in this study. The average age of the participants was 20.5 years (standard deviation = 1.47).

Data collection and analysis:  Pearson correlation coefficients were used to quantify the relationships between all measures.

Results:  Statistically significant relationships were found between HINT-Q thresholds versus BPTA _{(0.5-6.0 kHz)} (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and between HINT-F thresholds versus AzBio (0 dB signal-to-noise ratio) scores (r = -0.41, p < 0.05). No significant relationships were found between any of the quiet versus noise measures.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that, for individuals with pure-tone thresholds less than or equal to 25 dB HL, SRN ability must be measured directly and not inferred from PTA or speech-in-quiet measures. It is possible, to a modest degree, to predict AzBio performances from the HINT-F thresholds, and vice versa.