Development of Tongan Materials for Determining Speech Recognition Thresholds

Speech recognition threshold (SRT) is an important clinical measure that validates the pure-tone average (PTA), assists in diagnosis and prognosis of hearing and hearing impairment, and helps identify non-organic hearing impairment. Few published, recorded, and standardized materials exist in languages other than English, which results in audiologists testing individuals using materials developed in a non-native language. Research shows that this is problematic, as certain criterion for SRT testing are not met. Thus, performance may reflect test-language deficiency rather than hearing impairment. Currently, there are no known published materials for use in measuring the SRT in individuals whose native language is Tongan. The purpose of this project was to record and develop psychometrically equivalent words in Tongan for measuring the SRT. This study identified 28 trisyllabic words that were relatively homogenous in relation to audibility and psychometric function slope. The intensity of these 28 words was adjusted to equate 50% threshold performance for each word with the mean PTA (5.92 dB HL) for the twenty normally hearing participants. These materials were digitally recorded onto compact disc for distribution and use for SRT testing in Tongan.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Grantor dc:publisher

Brigham Young University - Provo

Author dc:creator

• Bunker, Lisa Dawn

• Tonga
• Tongan
• speech audiometry
• speech recognition threshold
• psychometric function slope
• performance-intensity function
• Communication Sciences and Disorders

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1391

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-2390