Development of the Malay digit triplet test via headphones and telephones as a national hearing screening tool in Malaysia
Introduction: This study aimed to develop a self-administered hearing screening test using digit triplets in Malay (MDTT) to be used as a national hearing screening tool via internet and telephone landlines in Malaysia. Methods: Recordings of disyllabic Malay digits by a female Malay native speak...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/66055/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/66055/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/66055/1/MRS2016-ABSTRACT-BOOK-16.pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: This study aimed to develop a self-administered hearing screening test using
digit triplets in Malay (MDTT) to be used as a national hearing screening tool via internet
and telephone landlines in Malaysia. Methods: Recordings of disyllabic Malay digits by
a female Malay native speaker were used together with a speech shaped stationary noise
(TSN). The test stimuli were normalized using responses from twenty normal hearing native
Malay speakers. The data were used to produce eight equivalent test lists. An additional
twenty normal hearing native Malay speakers were recruited to test the lists
equivalency. Forty six listeners with varying levels of hearing were recruited to validate the
tests. ROC analysis was done to identify the pass and refer cut-off limits. Results: No
statistical differences were found between lists for both test conditions. The evaluation in
fixed SNRs resulted in a mean speech reception threshold (SRT) of -11.3 ± 0.34 dB SNR for
headphone and -10.24 ± 0.1 dB SNR for telephone applications. A significant main effect of
type of transducer was observed in both normal and hearing impaired groups. The cut off for
refer, sensitivity and specificity for the tests using telephones are (-5.8dB, 80.8%, 95%) and
headphones (-9.8dB, 80.8%, 100%). Conclusions: The MDTT was successfully developed and
the normative values are comparable to other versions of the digit triplet tests. The MDTT
showed high sensitivity and specificity and can be made available to any Malay speaking
public via telephone and internet. |
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