Word-recognition assessment in noisy background, hearing loss

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Article Date: 19 Nov 2005 - 13:00 PDT

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Research shows that digit pairs or digit triplets can be used to assess the ability of older listeners with hearing loss to understand conversations in background noise.

Scientists compared how well young people with normal hearing and older people with hearing loss understand digit-pairs (2, 6) and digit-triplets (3, 5, 1) when listening in a back- ground of several people talking.

The background noise was at a constant volume whereas the words were presented at several volumes.

For both groups, understanding the digit pairs was slightly easier than under- standing the digit triplets. Investigators conclude that two or three digits can be used equally effectively to access patients' ability to understand speech in background noise.

Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development - pg 499

About the Journal

JRRD has been a leading research journal in the field of rehabilitation medicine and technology for more than 40 years. JRRD, a peer-reviewed, scientifically indexed journal, publishes original research papers, review articles, as well as clinical and technical commentary from U.S. and international researchers on all rehabilitation research disciplines. JRRD's mission is to responsibly evaluate and disseminate scientific research findings impacting the rehabilitative healthcare community. For more information about JRRD, visit http://www.vard.org.

Judith LaVoie
judith@vard.org
VA Research Communications Service
http://www.vard.org

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