Subjective Assessment of Hearing Performance

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 12 standard test lists of the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN) for equivalency of across list and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and for test-retest reliability for binaural soundfield listening. The results of the QuickSIN were compared with word recognition scores for Northwestern University No. 6 (NU-6) word Lists 1A and 2A presented in the QuickSIN babble. Further, the relation between the QuickSIN results and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) scores were evaluated. Two groups of adults (N = 36 per group), with normal hearing sensitivity (NH) and with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing impairment (HI), participated in a test and retest session separated by one to two weeks. Each participant completed the APHAB, received the 12 QuickSIN standard test lists in counterbalanced order, and the NU-6 List 1A (test) and 2A (retest) in the QuickSIN babble at a SNR based on the participant''s mean QuickSIN SNR-50 score for the session.