Estimated hearing handicap (using the AMA method and a self-evaluation questionnaire) versus reduction in speech intelligibility in quiet and noise

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 93; no. 4_Supplement; p. 2337
• Main Authors: Nilsson, Michael J., Felker, Donna, Senne, Allen, Soli, Sigfrid D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-04-1993
• ISSN: 0001-4966
• DOI: 10.1121/1.406299

Three methods of estimating hearing handicap were compared in subjects with bilateral sensorineural losses. Sentence speech-reception thresholds (sSRT) measured in quiet and 65 dB(A) noise were compared to the American Medical Association (AMA) method, based on pure-tone thresholds above 25 dB HL, and to a self-evaluation of handicap (Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults, HHIA). The AMA correlated highest with sSRTs in quiet (r=0.92), followed by sSRTs in noise (r=0.81), and directional hearing in noise (r=0.84). The HHIA was confounded by age effects, and increasing age decreasing perceived handicap. Thresholds were also measured with noise at a sensation level (SL) 25 dB above sSRTs to partially compensate for audibility differences among subjects. In this noise condition, the AMA correlated with sSRTs in noise (r=0.76) and directional hearing in noise (r=0.58), though the directional hearing is better predicted by pure-tone thresholds at 3 kHz (r=0.64). Stepwise regression analysis suggests handicap continues below 0% AMA handicap in the quiet and 25-dB SL noise conditions.