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Improving the efficiency of the digit triplet test using digit scoring with variable adaptive step sizes

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Objective: To investigate modifications of the Flemish Digit Triplet Test (DTT) to improve its efficiency, i.e. the use of a low-pass filtered noise and variable adaptive step sizes according to a digit scoring procedure, targeting different recognition probabilities. Design and study sample: Speech reception thresholds (SRT) were evaluated in terms of their test-retest reliability and correlation with pure tone averages (PTA) in a group of 68 adult participants with different degrees of hearing impairment. Results: The use of a low-pass filtered noise did not result in better test-retest reliability or an improved SRT-PTA correlation. Using digit scoring with adaptive step sizes parametrised to target a recognition probability of 79% (D79), corresponding to the recognition probability of the currently used DTT with triplet scoring and fixed adaptive step sizes of 2 dB, increased test-retest reliability. Lower recognition probabilities of 57 and 35% demonstrated worse reliability and worse SRT-PTA correlations. Conclusions: Given the increased test-retest reliability of D79, a similar reliability as for the currently used DTT could be obtained after considerably fewer trials, leading to a profit in test duration.
Journal: International Journal of Audiology
ISSN: 1499-2027
Issue: 10
Volume: 58
Pages: 670 - 677
Publication year:2019
BOF-keylabel:yes
IOF-keylabel:yes
BOF-publication weight:1
CSS-citation score:2
Authors from:Higher Education
Accessibility:Open