Comparison of quick speech-in-noise test and pure tone audiometry in noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Objective Complaints of speech understanding in situations where background noise exists, can be seen from early stages of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL); therefore, speech-in-noise tests including Quick speech-in-noise (Q-SIN) tests may be a suitable method for screening NIHL. The Q-SIN test uses the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) to evaluates speech perception in the presence of noise. This study aimed to compare pure tone audiometry and Q-SIN tests in patients with NIHL and normal hearing subjects. Methods In this cross-sectional study, according to the result of audiometry, subjects were classified into two groups: 45 individuals with audiograms suggestive of NIHL as a case group and 57 normal-hearing individuals as controls. The Persian version of the Quick-SIN test was performed for two study groups. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used for the comparison of mean SNR and hearing thresholds between the study groups. Spearman test was implemented for evaluation of the correlation between mean SNR and mean hearing thresholds in high and low frequencies in both ears. Results The median SNR loss was significantly higher in the NIHL group [0.75 (IQR: −0.75, 2.75)] than in the normal hearing group [−1.25 (−0.25, 1.25)] (p < 0.0001). It was also found that in the NIHL group, SNR loss had a direct and significant correlation with the high frequencies of both ears and the low frequency of the left ear, as the average hearing threshold increases at high frequencies and low frequencies of the left ear, the SNR loss mean increases as well. Conclusion The present study showed that the Q-SIN test as a rapid, easily applicable test has a positive correlation with pure tone audiometry results, especially at higher frequencies.