Words in noise audiometry in adult subjects with normal hearing

Background: Patients with hearing disturbance will generally undergo pure tone audiometry and
speech audiometry in a quiet room, but those examinations cannot evaluate the ability to understand speech in daily environment with a noisy background. Words in noise test will provide valuable information
regarding patient’s hearing problem in noise. Purpose: To evaluate the hearing threshold using words
in noise test in adults with normal hearing. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Cipto
Mangunkusumo Hospital from January to April 2017. All subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion
criteria underwent pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and words in noise test. Results: A total of
71 individuals with normal hearing were recruited for this study. Words in noise test showed the median
value of 67 dB and 100 dB for Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT) 50% and Speech Discrimination
Score (SDS) 100%, respectively. The SRT 50% and SDS 100% were significantly higher in the age group
40–60 years compared to the age group 18–39 years. There was also a statistically significant difference
between males and females at SRT 50% assessed by words in noise audiometry. Conclusion: Words
in noise test showed a statistically significant difference in SRT 50% and SDS 100% between two age
groups, but no difference was found between genders. The result of this study can be used as a reference
for SRT and SDS values of speech audiometry test in noise.