Validation of a smartphone-based digits-in-noise hearing test in Mandarin Chinese.

Objective: This study aimed to provide normative ranges of Chinese smartphone-based digits-in-noise (DIN) test results, to explore the association between speech reception threshold (SRT) and pure-tone average (PTA) threshold, and to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the Chinese DIN.

Design: Chinese-speaking adult subjects with varying types, symmetry and degrees of hearing loss, were recruited. All participants completed a pure-tone audiometric hearing test and DIN test with dichotic and antiphasic stimulus presentation.

Study sample: The overall sample consisted of 191 subjects, 24 with normal hearing and 167 with hearing loss.

Results: There was a positive correlation between antiphasic DIN SRTs and PTA thresholds. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were calculated based on the classification of poorer ears. When SRT was ≥ -15.8 dB, it suggested the possible presence of mild or more severe hearing loss; when SRT was ≥ -14.2 dB, it suggested the possible presence of moderate or more severe hearing loss.

Conclusion: The Chinese DIN SRT showed a highly positive correlation with PTA and exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in detecting hearing loss. Poorer ear PTA was the primary predictor of the antiphasic DIN SRT. The present results verify the validity of the Chinese DIN in its purpose of hearing screening.