Multicenter Study on the Impact of the Masker Babble Spectrum on the Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) Test.

Autor:	Laureyns M; Audiology Department, Thomas More University College, 2800 Antwerp, Belgium.; Amplifon Centre for Research & Studies, 20141 Milan, Italy., Pugliese G; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.; Department of Surgical Sciences, Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy., Freyaldenhoven Bryan M; School of Communication Science & Disorders, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USA., Willekens M; Audiology Department, Thomas More University College, 2800 Antwerp, Belgium., Gasbarre AM; Department of Surgical Sciences, Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy., Zanetti D; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.; Department of Surgical Sciences, Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy., Gilson J; Audiology Department, Marie Haps University College, 1050 Brussels, Belgium., Van Doren P; Amplifon Centre for Research & Studies, 20141 Milan, Italy., Di Berardino F; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.; Department of Surgical Sciences, Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Audiology research [Audiol Res] 2024 Dec 07; Vol. 14 (6), pp. 1075-1083. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Dec 07.
DOI:	10.3390/audiolres14060088
Abstrakt:	Introduction: Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) is defined as the most comfortable level (MCL) intensity for speech and is calculated by subtracting the maximum noise tolerable by an individual. The ANL test has been used over time to predict hearing aid use and the impact of digital noise reduction. This study analyzes this impact by using different masker babble spectra when performing the ANL test in both hearing-impaired and healthy subjects in three different languages (Dutch, French, and Italian). Materials and Methods: A total of 198 patients underwent the ANL test in their native language using a standardized protocol. The babble file was speech-weighted to match the long-term spectrum of the specific ANL language version. ANL was proposed in three different masking conditions: with multitalker Matched babble speech noise, with the same masking signal with the spectrum reduced from 2 kHz onwards (High Cut), and with the spectrum increased from 2 kHz onwards (High Boost). Results: In all of the comparisons among the three languages, ANL with High Boost noise gave significantly higher (worse) scores than ANL with Matched noise ( p -value S1: <0.0001, S2: <0.0001, S3: 0.0003) and ANL with High Cut noise ( p -value S1: 0.0002, S2: <0.0001, S3: <0.0001). The ANL values did not show any significant correlation with age and gender. In French, a weak correlation was found between ANL with High Cut noise and the Fletcher index of the worst ear. In Italian, a weak correlation was found between both ANL with Matched and High Boost noise and the Fletcher index of the best ear. Conclusions: ANL with High Boost added to noise stimuli was less acceptable for all patients in all of the languages. The ANL results did not vary in relation to the patients' characteristics. This study confirms that the ANL test has potential application for clinical use regardless of the native language spoken.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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