Journal of Audiology & Otology

The Korean Audiology Society (대한청각학회)
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A Comparison Between the Korean Digits-in-Noise Test and the Korean Speech Perception-in-Noise Test in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Listeners

  • Kim, Subin (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • You, Sungwha (Laboratory of Hearing and Technology, Research Institute of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University) ;
  • Sohn, Myoung Eun (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Han, Woojae (Laboratory of Hearing and Technology, Research Institute of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University) ;
  • Seo, Jae-Hyun (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Oh, Yonghee (Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Florida)
  • Received : 2021.02.01
  • Accepted : 2021.07.21
  • Published : 2021.10.20
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to validate the performance and diagnostic efficacy of the Korean digits-in-noise (K-DIN) test in comparison to the Korean speech perception-in-noise (K-SPIN) test, which is the representative speech-in-noise test in clinical practice. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-seven subjects (15 normal-hearing and 12 hearing-impaired listeners) participated. The recorded Korean 0-9 digits were used to form quasirandom digit triplets; 50 target digit triplets were presented at the most comfortable level of each subject while presenting speech-shaped background noise at various levels of signal-to-noise ratios (-12.5, -10, -5, or +5 dB). Subjects were then instructed to listen to both target and noise masker unilaterally and bilaterally through a headphone. K-SPIN test was also conducted using the same procedure as the K-DIN. After calculating their percent correct responses, K-DIN and K-SPIN results were compared using a Pearson-correlation test. Results: Results showed a statistically significant correlation between K-DIN and K-SPIN in all hearing conditions (left: r=0.814, p<0.001; right: r=0.788, p<0.001; bilateral: r=0.727, p<0.001). Moreover, the K-DIN test achieved better testing efficacy, shorter average listening time (5 min vs. 30 min), and easier performance of task according to participants' qualitative reports than the K-SPIN test. Conclusions: In this study, the Korean version of digit triplet test was validated in both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The findings suggest that the K-DIN test can be used as a simple and time-efficient hearing-in-noise test in audiology clinics in Korea.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by Research Fund of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea and a grant of the E.N.T. Fund of the Catholic University of Korea made in the program year of 2020. This work was also supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (2019R1F1A1053060).

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