Sprachaudiometrische Zielparameter in klinischen Studien zur Hörverbesserung

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Background: When comparing clinical studies nationally and internationally, there is great heterogeneity in the applied audiometric outcome parameters. Beside different frequencies included in pure-tone audiometry and the resulting averages, the word recognition scores are measured at varying sound pressure levels, i.e., either with a fixed sound pressure level or with a fixed sensation level. However, a comparison of studies, e. g., in meta-analysis, requires comparable outcome parameters. Objective: In this study, the influence of speech-audiometric outcome parameters on the outcome reporting of hearing therapies is studied. Patients and methods: Before and after a conservative or a surgical treatment aimed at hearing improvement, 25 patients with hearing impairment were tested with the German Freiburg speech intelligibility test with monosyllables and numbers at various levels, and with the German Oldenburg sentence test in quiet. Additionally, 49 subjects with normal hearing were tested. Results: In a comparison of measurement methods (outcome parameters), the hearing improvement measured using constant sound pressure levels for speech audiometry was significantly greater and therefore more sensitive than using constant sensation levels. Conclusion: To test changes in hearing in clinical studies, fixed sound pressure levels should be preferred to fixed sensation levels. For the development of standardized outcome parameters for measuring speech intelligibility in quiet, fixed sound pressure levels or measurement of speech reception thresholds should be selected.

Translated title of the contribution
Speech audiometric outcome parameters in clinical trials on hearing improvement

Details

Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)211-218
Number of pages8
Journal HNO : Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie
Volume65
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 27933349

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Hearing loss, Rehabilitation, Speech audiometry, Speech discrimination tests, Speech reception threshold