(PP1307) The Effect of Tinnitus on Speech Perception in Noise Ability

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of tinnitus on speech perception in noise ability using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT; Nilsson et al, 1994; Vermiglio, 2008) and the AzBio test (Spahr et al, 2012). The HINT sentences were presented in steady-state speech-shaped noise and four-talker babble. The AzBio sentences were presented in four-talker babble forward, four-talker babble backwards, conversational forward, conversational backwards, steady-state noise, and ten-talker babble. Results revealed no main effect for the tinnitus group. 


Summary: 

Objectives:  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tinnitus on the ability to recognize speech in the presence of background noise. It was hypothesized that better speech recognition in noise performances would be found for those who did not have tinnitus.  

Rationale: Speech perception in noise abilities are important for interacting and participating in daily life activities. Gilles et al. (2016) found that young adults with tinnitus demonstrated decreased speech in noise perception abilities as compared to young adults without tinnitus. According to Zeng et al. (2020) the effect of tinnitus on speech perception in noise is minimal.

Design:  Thirty-one native English speakers, ages 19 to 32 (mean = 20.9 years, SD = 2.51) with normal pure-tone thresholds (< 25 dB HL, 0.25 - 4.0 kHz) participated in this study. Participants who reported the presence of tinnitus were placed in the tinnitus group and all other subjects were placed in the control group. Speech perception in noise ability was determined using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT; Nilsson et al, 1994; Vermiglio, 2008) and the AzBio test (Spahr et al, 2012). The HINT is a binaural protocol administered adaptively. The HINT sentences were presented in two masking conditions: steady-state speech-shaped noise and four-talker babble. The maskers were presented at 65 dBA. The AzBio sentences were presented in four-talker babble forward, four-talker babble backwards, conversational forward and conversational backwards. The speech and noise stimuli were presented at 65 dBA (0 dB SNR). Both tests were administered binaurally under supra-aural headphones in a sound-treated booth. All sentence lists and test conditions were randomized. Results were reported as thresholds in dB SNR for the HINT and percentages of words correct for the AzBio. 

Results:  A repeated measures ANOVA was administered in order to determine the main effect of group and masker condition.The analysis revealed no main effect of group was found for the HINT (F=.09, p >.15) or the AzBio (F=0.001, p >.86) results. A main effect of masker condition was found for both the HINT (p < 0.0043) and the AzBio (p< .0001) results.  

Conclusion:  The results did not support the hypothesis that the non-tinnitus group would perform better than the tinnitus group. No main effects of tinnitus were found for either the HINT or AzBio speech in noise results. This is consistent with the findings of Zeng at al. (2020).