Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2015 Feb;58(2):88-94. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2015.58.2.88.

Comparison of Speech Audiometry Using KS Word List and Hahm's List in Hearing Impaired Adults

• Park SH
• Lee HJ
• Kim J
• Kim E
• Lee JH
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 1784957
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2015.58.2.88

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to compare speech audiometry test results of the conventional Hahm's list with those of Korean standard word lists for adults (KS-WL-A) using both live voice and compact disc (CD) speech presentation modes.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Eighty patients with sensorineural hearing loss and 23 control subjects with normal hearing participated in the study. Each hearing loss group comprised 20 subjects (mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe hearing loss groups). Speech audiometry was performed to measure the speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition score. KS-WL-A was presented either through a live voice mode or recorded CD materials. Test words from Hahm's list were presented using the live voice mode only. Pure tone audiometry was also conducted for all subjects.
RESULTS
Differences between the SRT and pure tone average were within 6 dB in all subgroups in all three stimulation methods, indicating high reliability of the SRT in both the conventional and Korean standard methods. The moderate, moderately severe, and severe hearing loss groups showed lower word recognition scores in the CD mode with KS-WL-A than with the two live voice modes.
CONCLUSION
Both the live voice mode and CD mode showed reliable speech audiometry test results in normal and hearing-impaired subjects. Although the CD mode is recommended to standardize test methods and reduce test errors, the live voice mode might be more effective for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss.

Keyword

Speech audiometry; Speech discrimination tests; Speech reception threshold test

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Audiometry
Audiometry, Speech*
Compact Disks
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Hearing*
Humans
Speech Discrimination Tests
Speech Reception Threshold Test
Voice