Development of ukrainian speech discrimination tests for children (phase of formation of tables with words)

Topicality: The speech audiometry is an essential diagnostic method which allows to fully assess the effectiveness of the cochlear implantation and hearing aids, to identify the central auditory processing disorders among the patients. Ukrainian audiologists have all necessary tools to perform classical speech audiometry and determine speech discrimination in the difficult acoustic conditions in adults. But it should be said that Ukrainian speech tests for children haven’t been developed yet. Aim: to develop and implement the Ukrainian speech discrimination tests for children. To solve the problem of speech audiometry in Ukraine it was decided to develop several speech discrimination tests for children of different ages and needs. At the first stage the authors have formed the groups with Ukrainian words for speech audiometry in children (starting from preschool age) and made a studio recording of the test that should be tested and validated futher. The formed word groups meet with all the requirements for phonetically balanced speech discrimination tests taking into consideration the peculiarities of children’s audiometry. The following principles were adhered in each group: the presence of all Ukrainian vowel phonemes in the stressed syllable and consonants with different frequency; the presence of words with different numbers of syllables; taking into consideration the rhythmic structure of the word (stress place); keeping a constant ratio of vowels and consonants. The article presents the primary (not yet valid) version of the Ukrainian speech discrimination test for children’s audiometry. Studio recording of this test will be tested in children with normal and impaired hearing as well as in users of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Conclusions: For the first time in Ukraine the tables with words have been formed in the native language for the audiometry in children (starting from the preschool age). The studio recording of the speech discrimination test was done with the female voice. Hence the next phase of development of the Ukrainian speech tests for children is planned the sence of which will be to approbate and validate.

Use of the CID W22 as a South African English speech discrimination test

South Africa currently lacks a pre-recorded South African English (SAE) specific speech discrimination test. In the absence of such a test, the SAE speaker recording (Tygerberg recording) of the American (USA) English (AE) CID W22 wordlists - in combination with the original American CID W22 normative data - is the most widely used alternative. The reliability and validity of this method, however, has never been formally assessed. This study assessed the performance of 15 normal hearing, female, first language SAE speakers on the first two full-lists of Tygerberg CID W22 recording at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 dBSPL, and compared their scores to the American CID W22 wordlist normative data. Overall, the South African subjects performed worse than the original American normative data at the lower presentation intensities( 40 dBSPL), however, was considered a viable option. These results reiterate the need for large scale, South African specific normative studies for the CID W22 wordlists if they are to continue their role as the dominant speech discrimination wordlists in South Africa.

Use of the NAL-AB Wordlists as a South African English Speech Discrimination Test

South Africa still lacks a South African English specific speech discrimination test. As an alternative, this study investigated the use of the Australian English, National Acoustic Laboratories Arthur Boothroyd (N AL-AB) wordlists to assess the speech discrimination of South African English speakers. Thirty South African English speakers were tested at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25 dBHL (audiometer dial reading) and their performance-intensity functions were compared qualitatively to the NAL-AB wordlist normative data. Results showed three general patterns; similar performance for both groups; poorer performance by the South African English speakers at the low to mid presentation intensities only; and poorer performance by the South African English speakers across most presentation intensities. Use of the NAL-AB wordlists at threshold levels or for site of lesion assessment was therefore concluded to be unwise. Use of these wordlists at supra-threshold levels, however, would provide a valid and reliable option for the speech discrimination assessment of South African English speakers.