Clinical validation of the Russian Matrix test – effect of hearing loss, age, and noise level. (1st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Warzybok, Anna; Zhilinskaya, Ekaterina; Goykhburg, Marina; Tavartkiladze, George; Kollmeier, Birger; Boboshko, Maria
• Is Part Of: International journal of audiology. Volume 59:Number 12(2020)
• Page Start: 930
• Page End: 940
• Publication Date: 2020-12-01
• Subjects: Hearing impairment -- speech perception -- speech in noise -- Matrix test; Audiology -- Periodicals; Hearing disorders -- Periodicals; Deafness -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Hearing Disorders -- Periodicals; Hearing -- Periodicals; 617.8
• DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1806368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1499-2027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To validate the Russian matrix sentence test (RUMatrix) for the assessment of speech recognition in quiet and in noise in clinical praxis. The effect of hearing impairment, age, and masking-noise level on speech recognition was examined. Design: All participants underwent pure tone audiometry, a monosyllabic speech test in quiet, and speech recognition measurements with RUMatrix in quiet (SRTQ ) and in noise (SRTN ). Study sample: One hundred and forty-two listeners divided into four groups: 1. Young normal-hearing listeners, 2. Older normal-hearing listeners, 3. Young hearing-impaired listeners, and 4. Older hearing-impaired listeners. Results: Significant differences between groups of listeners were found in the SRTQ and SRTN . A strong correlation between hearing threshold and SRTQ (R 2 =0.88, p < 0.001) indicates a strong link between speech recognition in quiet and audibility. The pure-tone average explained less variance in SRTN (R 2 =0.67, p < 0.001), pointing out an additional influence of suprathreshold distortion. A high test sensitivity of 0.99 was found for SRTN and SRTQ . The monosyllabic test had a low sensitivity (0.21), indicating that the test is not suitable for separating normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. Conclusions: RuMatrix is a reliable speech recognition assessment tool with a high sensitivity and validity for the main aspects of hearing impairment.