A Comparison Between the Korean Digits-in-Noise Test and the Korean Speech Perception-in-Noise Test in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Listeners.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Kim, Subin You, Sungwha Sohn, Myoung Eun Han, Woojae Seo, Jae-Hyun Oh, Yonghee
Copyright Year	2021
Abstract	Background and ObjectivesThe 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 MethodsTwenty-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.ResultsResults 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.ConclusionsIn 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.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC8524118&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	23841621
Journal	Journal of Audiology & Otology [J Audiol Otol]
Volume Number	25
DOI	10.7874/jao.2021.00045
PubMed Central reference number	PMC8524118
Issue Number	4
PubMed reference number	34649417
e-ISSN	23841710
Language	English
Publisher	The Korean Audiological Society and Korean Otological Society
Publisher Date	2021-10-10
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2021 The Korean Audiological Society and Korean Otological Society
Subject Keyword	Digits-in-noise test Sensorineural hearing loss Speech perception
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Otorhinolaryngology Sensory Systems Speech and Hearing