[Speech audiometry with logatomes].

BACKGROUND

Logatomes are nonsense syllables used for analyzing the confusion of phonemes by hearing impaired listeners. They can provide a precise differentiation of phonemic confusions which may be useful in the exact adjustment of programmable hearing aids.

METHODS

In this study, two lists of logatomes with 108 three-sound combinations with a structure of consonant-vowel-consonant (c-v-c) and vowel-consonant-vowel (v-c-v) were recorded on a compact disk. Twenty normally hearing adults and 28 patients with a sensorineural hearing loss were tested at a comfortable listening level of about 25 +/- 5 dB above the mean audiometric thresholds at 0,5. 1,0 and 2,0 kHz. An index of reduction of speech perception was calculated.

RESULTS

A significant relationship between reduction of logatome perception and pure-tone audiometric thresholds at 1,2,3, and 4 kHz was demonstrated. Moreover, it was possible to distinguish between different groups of hearing impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

The logatome test helps to analyze specific effects that hearing loss can have on the recognition of acoustic speech signals. The logatome test may become a valuable addition to speech audiometric tests with further standardization.