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Evaluation of a voice test for screening adults who self-identify with hearing loss

Whispered voice testing has been used for many years to screen for hearing impairment in adults and children (Pirozzo, Papinczak, Glasziou, 2007). There are different variations to the test including the repetition of spondee words, single syllable words, and even pointing to pictures representing the words whispered. The Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF) has been providing amplification for people around the world with hearing loss for many years. The SHF has been using a voice test they developed that has listeners repeat 3 syllables that were chosen to represent roughly the speech range of frequencies from low to high. Understanding the effectiveness of the test at identifying listeners with moderate hearing losses was the goal of the present study. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the SHF voice test, 115 adult listeners (18 years and older) who had self-identified as having hearing problems were given the SHF voice test and also underwent audiometric evaluations so that the results of the two could be compared. Examiners were blind to the results of the other exam when giving the tests and no examiner administered both tests to the same person during the testing. Sensitivity and specificity of the voice test were calculated for the test as a whole and found to be 93% and 92% respectively. Other measures to be reported will be the effectiveness of each syllable in predicting hearing loss in high or low frequencies as well as differences in performance between the two test sites. The results of the study support the use of the voice test developed by the SHF for screening for hearing loss among adults who self-identify as having hearing difficulties. Weaknesses and strengths of the voice test will be discussed. Recommendations for its use and the need for future studies will also be included.

• Learn about the role of voice testing in assessing hearing impairment
• Observe the effectiveness of a voice test developed to identify loss in people who report hearing problems
• Export the strengths and weakness of using a voice test in assessing patients in the developing world

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Luqman Lawal (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Starkey Hearing Foundation/ University of Minnesota SPH, Luqman_Lawal@starkeyfoundation.org;
Luqman Lawal MD, MPH is a Public health Physician who serves as the Director of Global health and Research at the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Jeffery Larsen (POC,Primary Presenter,Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Utah State University , jeffery.larsen@usu.edu;
Jeff Larsen is a faculty member of the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education at Utah State University. He works in the adult audiology clinic, teaches courses, and conducts research. His primary interests are speech perception, classroom acoustics, humanitarian audiology, and vestibular outcomes in the case of mild traumatic brain injury.

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Heather Jensen (Co-Presenter,Author,Co-Author), Utah State University, heather.jensen@usu.edu;

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Ianthe Murad (Co-Presenter,Co-Author), ianthe.Dunn-Murad@hofstra.edu;

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.

Rose Valvezan (Co-Presenter,Co-Author), Rose.N.Valvezan@hofstra.edu;

ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - Nonfinancial -

AAA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.