2890 – Speech understanding and logatom intelligibility in alcohol addicts during detoxification in hospital

Abstract

Objectives The aim of research is to assess a speech perception in alcohol addicts and healthy ones. Methods 65 alcohol addicts (mean age 38 years, min. 22, max. 66 years) were examined. Patients admitted hearing impaired were excluded. The average duration of addiction: 8.8 years. The measure of speech understanding is the ratio of correctly received phonetic elements to the total number of presented ones. Speech understanding is often determined in the presence of masking noise. Respondents are to arrangement of sentences with words heard in the noise. The test determines the intensity of speech, for which - if it is presented in the noise - observed in 50% of correct answers. This parameter is called the Threshold Reception Speech (SRT). The logatom intelligibility test consists with over 150 presented stimuli. Both tests were conducted in a soundproof booth Results In the speech understanding test were found significant difference of average SRT between alcohol addict and healthy ones. The better understanding of speech was found in healthy individuals. In a study conducted in the final phase of detoxification treatment, it was found that the level of speech understanding in addicts was improved (statistically significant). In the logatom intelligibility test wasn’t differences. Conclusions It was found that alcohol dependence is associated with worse perception of speech.