Modernising speech audiometry : using a smartphone application to test word recognition

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Authors

Van Zyl, Marianne
Swanepoel, De Wet
Myburgh, Hermanus Carel

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : This study aimed to develop and assess a method to measure word recognition abilities using a smartphone application (App) connected to an audiometer. DESIGN : Word lists were recorded in South African English and Afrikaans. Analyses were conducted to determine the effect of hardware used for presentation (computer, compact-disc player, or smartphone) on the frequency content of recordings. An Android App was developed to enable presentation of recorded materials via a smartphone connected to the auxiliary input of the audiometer. Experiments were performed to test feasibility and validity of the developed App and recordings. STUDY SAMPLE : Participants were 100 young adults (18–30 years) with pure tone thresholds ≤15 dB across the frequency spectrum (250–8000 Hz). RESULTS : Hardware used for presentation had no significant effect on the frequency content of recordings. Listening experiments indicated good inter-list reliability for recordings in both languages, with no significant differences between scores on different lists at each of the tested intensities. Performance-intensity functions had slopes of 4.05%/dB for English and 4.75%/dB for Afrikaans lists at the 50% point. CONCLUSIONS : The developed smartphone App constitutes a feasible and valid method for measuring word recognition scores, and can support standardisation and accessibility of recorded speech audiometry.

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Keywords

Speech perception, Tele-audiology, Speech audiometry, Word recognition, Mobile health (mHealth)

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Citation

Marianne van Zyl, De Wet Swanepoel & Hermanus C. Myburgh (2018) Modernising speech audiometry: using a smartphone application to test word recognition, International Journal of Audiology, 57:8, 561-569, DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1463465.