Comparison of 50% Recognition Signal-to-Noise Ratio Using a Multi-Talker Babble Noise in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Individuals

Park, Chul Ho; Lee, Seong Hee; Shim, Hyun Joon; Lee, Seung Ju; Yoon, Sang Won; Lee, Kyoung Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The most common complaint of individuals with hearing impairment is the difficulty in understanding speech against background noise. In our previous study, we carried out a speech-in-noise test using multi-talker babble noise and spondee words. In the present study, we compared 50%-signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of hearing-impairment group with that of normal-hearing group, and analyze the effects of age and noise intensity affecting the results.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Thirty listeners (of which each 10 listeners are in their forties, fifties, and sixties) with normal hearing and thirty listeners (each ten listeners in their forties, fifties, and sixties) with hearing impairment participated. Spondee words and multi-talker babble noise made from recording the voices of 10 males and 10 females were presented by a loudspeaker at a distance of one meter in front of the subject. Fifty percent-SNRs were measured at 50 dB HL, 60 dB HL, 70 dB HL, and 80 dB HL of noise intensity.
RESULTS
The mean 50% SNR for normal-hearing listeners in the forties, fifties and sixties of age were -13.4+/-2.1 dB, -11.5+/-2.3 dB, and -12.6+/-2.0 dB, respectively. The mean 50% SNR for hearing-impairment listeners in the forties, fifties and sixties of age were -11.2+/-3.4 dB, -9.5+/-3.0 dB, -8.7+/-2.7 dB, respectively. Hearing-impairment group showed significantly worse results than the normal- hearing group in all ages.
CONCLUSION
These results support that our word-in-noise test using multi-talker babble noise is useful in measuring audibility against background noise for individuals with hearing-impairment.