Simplified cochlear frequency selectivity measure for sensorineural hearing loss screening: Comparison with digit triplet test (DTT) and shortened speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) questionnaire
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2023
Abstract
PurposePure-tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for screening and diagnosis of hearing loss but is not always accessible. This study evaluated a simplified cochlear frequency selectivity (FS) measure as an alternative option to screen for early frequency-specific sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).MethodsFS measures at 1 and 4 kHz center frequencies were obtained using a custom-made software in normal-hearing (NH), slight SNHL and mild-to-moderate SNHL subjects. For comparison, subjects were also assessed with the Malay Digit Triplet Test (DTT) and the shortened Malay Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) questionnaire.ResultsCompared to DTT and SSQ, the FS measure at 4 kHz was able to distinguish NH from slight and mild-to-moderate SNHL subjects, and was strongly correlated with their thresholds in quiet determined separately in 1-dB step sizes at the similar test frequency. Further analysis with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 and 0.83 for the FS measure at 4 kHz when PTA thresholds of NH subjects were taken as <= 15 dB HL and <= 20 dB HL, respectively. At the optimal FS cut-off point for 4 kHz, the FS measure had 77.8% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity to detect 20 dB HL hearing loss.ConclusionFS measure was superior to DTT and SSQ questionnaire in detecting early frequency-specific threshold shifts in SNHL subjects, particularly at 4 kHz. This method could be used for screening subjects at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
Keywords
Frequency selectivity, Sensorineural hearing loss, Affordable hearing test, Hearing screening
Divisions
physiodept
Funders
None
Publication Title
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Volume
280
Issue
10
Publisher
Springer
Publisher Location
ONE NEW YORK PLAZA, SUITE 4600, NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES