The Finnish simplified matrix sentence test for the assessment of speech intelligibility in the elderly. (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Willberg, Tytti; Kärtevä, Karissa; Zokoll, Melanie; Buschermöhle, Michael; Sivonen, Ville; Aarnisalo, Antti; Löppönen, Heikki; Kollmeier, Birger; Dietz, Aarno
• Is Part Of: International journal of audiology. Volume 59:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 763
• Page End: 771
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Speech audiometry -- speech intelligibility in noise -- speech reception threshold -- matrix sentence test -- elderly; Audiology -- Periodicals; Hearing disorders -- Periodicals; Deafness -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Hearing Disorders -- Periodicals; Hearing -- Periodicals; 617.8
• DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1741704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1499-2027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: A simplified version of the Finnish matrix sentence test (FMST) was developed to improve the reliability of hearing diagnostic for children and for patients with limited working memory capacity and/or vocabulary. Design: Study 1 evaluated the word matrix of the Finnish simplified matrix sentence test (FINSIMAT) to rule out systematic differences between the new FINSIMAT test lists, and to provide reference values for normal-hearing (NH) young adults (YA). In Study 2, the FINSIMAT and the FMST were evaluated in elderly listeners with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment (HI). Study sample: Twenty NH YAs participated in Study 1, and 16 elderly HI adults participated in Study 2. Results: For NH YAs, the reference speech reception threshold (SRT50 ) estimate and the slope for the FINSIMAT were −11.2 ± 1.0 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 19.4 ± 1.9%/dB SNR. For the elderly HI listeners, the mean SRT50 estimates for the FINSIMAT and FMST were −4.1 and −3.6 dB SNR, respectively. The correlation between the FMST and FINSIMAT results was strong (r 2 = 0.78, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The FINSIMAT showed comparable characteristics to the FMST and proved feasible for measurements in elderly HI listeners.