Abstract
To establish the relationship between the performance on word recognition tasks, using words with and without sense and degree, and the configuration of hearing loss, by using Speech Inteligibility Index (SII) values as indicators, in children with hearing loss. SII were established for 55 and 65 Decibel of Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL) input sounds of ten children presenting bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), adapted with bilateral hearing aids, and who have oral language as the main mode of communication. The children were submitted to a word and nonsense-word repetition task of two or three intensity degrees. Their productions were analyzed according to the Word Association for Syllable Perception (WASP) Protocol. In the data analysis, the values of SII were compared with the results obtained in each analysis criterion. Pertaining to the words, there was statistically significant difference between the two types of stimuli in 55 dBSPL. As for the performance of consonants and point of articulation, there was a statistically significant difference between stimuli types in 65 and 55 dB SPL, and between intensities 65 and 55 dB SPL in nonsense words. Overall, there was no regularity in the relationship between hearing ability and performance in speech perception tasks. The results suggest that performance in the nonsense words recognition tasks was more related to intelligibility index than to words with meaning, possibly because it limits semantic closure strategies by the subject.
Highlights
The process of selection of hearing aids (HA) in infants and young children is composed of sequential and integrated steps, namely: definition of hearing thresholds, selection of electroacoustic characteristics of amplification, verification of amplification and validation[1].The main objective of the selection process of HA in infants and young children with hearing impairment is to ensure access to quality speech sounds without discomfort[2]
There was no statistical significance for the difference between the mean percentages of correct and meaningless words at 65 Decibel of Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL) intensity
When the intensity was decreased to 55 dB SPL, this intensity did the difference between the mean percentage of guess and miss meaning words and could be statistically significant, i.e. the type of stimulus only made a difference for the weaker sounds or, by inference, more distant
Summary
The process of selection of hearing aids (HA) in infants and young children is composed of sequential and integrated steps, namely: definition of hearing thresholds, selection of electroacoustic characteristics of amplification, verification of amplification and validation[1]. The main objective of the selection process of HA in infants and young children with hearing impairment is to ensure access to quality speech sounds without discomfort[2]. The verification step is indispensable to adjust the amplification characteristics, right after the programming of the HA through the manufacturers’ software. Failure to check devices according to prescriptive evidence-based rules neglects the importance of speech sound audibility[5]. The Desired Sensation Level (DSL) prescriptive rule was designed to meet the acoustic needs of the pediatric population, assuming that speech sounds are the most important. The current version of the rule is DSL m [i/o] v5, available on proprietary software of some brands of HA and on some verification equipment
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