Lucker Jay R
Howard University, Washington, DC.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2017 Sep;28(8):679-684. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.15116.
Many audiologists believe that auditory processing testing must be carried out in a soundproof booth. This expectation is especially a problem in places such as elementary schools. Research comparing pure-tone thresholds obtained in sound booths compared to quiet test environments outside of these booths does not support that belief. Auditory processing testing is generally carried out at above threshold levels, and therefore may be even less likely to require a soundproof booth. The present study was carried out to compare test results in soundproof booths versus quiet rooms.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether auditory processing tests can be administered in a quiet test room rather than in the soundproof test suite. The outcomes would identify that audiologists can provide auditory processing testing for children under various test conditions including quiet rooms at their school.
A battery of auditory processing tests was administered at a test level equivalent to 50 dB HL through headphones. The same equipment was used for testing in both locations.
Twenty participants identified with normal hearing were included in this study, ten having no auditory processing concerns and ten exhibiting auditory processing problems. All participants underwent a battery of tests, both inside the test booth and outside the booth in a quiet room. Order of testing (inside versus outside) was counterbalanced.
Participants were first determined to have normal hearing thresholds for tones and speech. Auditory processing tests were recorded and presented from an HP EliteBook laptop computer with noise-canceling headphones attached to a y-cord that not only presented the test stimuli to the participants but also allowed monitor headphones to be worn by the evaluator. The same equipment was used inside as well as outside the booth.
No differences were found for each auditory processing measure as a function of the test setting or the order in which testing was done, that is, in the booth or in the room.
Results from the present study indicate that one can obtain the same results on auditory processing tests, regardless of whether testing is completed in a soundproof booth or in a quiet test environment. Therefore, audiologists should not be required to test for auditory processing in a soundproof booth. This study shows that audiologists can conduct testing in a quiet room so long as the background noise is sufficiently controlled.
许多听力学家认为，听觉处理测试必须在隔音室中进行。这种期望在小学等场所尤其成问题。将隔音室内获得的纯音阈值与这些隔音室外安静测试环境中获得的阈值进行比较的研究并不支持这一观点。听觉处理测试通常在阈值以上水平进行，因此可能更不太需要隔音室。本研究旨在比较隔音室与安静房间中的测试结果。
本研究的目的是确定听觉处理测试是否可以在安静的测试房间而不是隔音测试套件中进行。研究结果将表明听力学家可以在包括学校安静房间在内的各种测试条件下为儿童提供听觉处理测试。
通过耳机以相当于50 dB HL的测试水平进行一系列听觉处理测试。在两个地点测试使用的是相同的设备。
本研究纳入了20名听力正常的参与者，其中10名没有听觉处理问题，10名存在听觉处理问题。所有参与者在测试 booth 内和隔音室外的安静房间里都接受了一系列测试。测试顺序（室内与室外）进行了平衡处理。
首先确定参与者的纯音和言语听力阈值正常。听觉处理测试由一台惠普EliteBook笔记本电脑记录并呈现，该电脑配有连接到Y型线的降噪耳机，Y型线不仅向参与者呈现测试刺激，还允许评估人员佩戴监听耳机。在 booth 内和 booth 外使用的是相同的设备。
未发现各项听觉处理指标因测试环境或测试顺序（即在 booth 内或房间内）而存在差异。
本研究结果表明，无论听觉处理测试是在隔音室还是在安静的测试环境中完成，都能获得相同的结果。因此，不应要求听力学家在隔音室中进行听觉处理测试。这项研究表明，只要背景噪音得到充分控制，听力学家可以在安静的房间里进行测试。
