Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults

Introduction: To investigate the effects of frequently used variations of the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test on speech reception threshold (SRT) for onsite and online implementations. Methods: We tested various DIN test implementations in a within-subject design on 30 normal-hearing adults onsite, with...

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Main Authors: Türüdü Soner, Koelewijn Thomas, Araiza-Illan Gloria, Hoogeveen Lisa, Gaudrain Etienne, Başkent Deniz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Acta Acustica
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Online Access:https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2025/01/aacus240120/aacus240120.html
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author Türüdü Soner
Koelewijn Thomas
Araiza-Illan Gloria
Hoogeveen Lisa
Gaudrain Etienne
Başkent Deniz
author_facet Türüdü Soner
Koelewijn Thomas
Araiza-Illan Gloria
Hoogeveen Lisa
Gaudrain Etienne
Başkent Deniz
author_sort Türüdü Soner
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: To investigate the effects of frequently used variations of the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test on speech reception threshold (SRT) for onsite and online implementations. Methods: We tested various DIN test implementations in a within-subject design on 30 normal-hearing adults onsite, with 22 of them also online. We varied three parameters: (1) sound presentation, diotic or antiphasic; (2) starting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), 0 or −16 dB; and (3) mixing method, with fixed presentation level of the speech, the noise, or the speech and noise mix (tested onsite only). Results: Antiphasic presentation yielded significantly lower DIN SRTs than diotic by around 6 dB. The effects of starting SNR and mixing method were significant but small, around 1−2 dB. These effects seemed more pronounced with antiphasic presentation. Overall, onsite and online DIN test results were comparable, with the largest observed difference being 1.30 dB. Conclusion: The selection of diotic or antiphasic sound presentation seems important, and antiphasic presentation may result in a more sensitive test. In contrast, the effects of the other parameters were small. The comparable onsite and online outcomes indicate that online testing via the internet could be a viable option for making the DIN test available to large populations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2681-4617
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Acta Acustica
spelling doaj-art-ea6c55e2593d4f2990f593846cb7898d2025-08-20T03:34:52ZengEDP SciencesActa Acustica2681-46172025-01-0194710.1051/aacus/2025032aacus240120Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adultsTürüdü Soner0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7561-8487Koelewijn Thomas1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5507-5005Araiza-Illan Gloria2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7539-5324Hoogeveen Lisa3Gaudrain Etienne4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0490-0295Başkent Deniz5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6560-1451Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenCNRS UMR 5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Auditory Cognition and Psychoacoustics, Inserm UMRS 1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de LyonDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenIntroduction: To investigate the effects of frequently used variations of the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test on speech reception threshold (SRT) for onsite and online implementations. Methods: We tested various DIN test implementations in a within-subject design on 30 normal-hearing adults onsite, with 22 of them also online. We varied three parameters: (1) sound presentation, diotic or antiphasic; (2) starting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), 0 or −16 dB; and (3) mixing method, with fixed presentation level of the speech, the noise, or the speech and noise mix (tested onsite only). Results: Antiphasic presentation yielded significantly lower DIN SRTs than diotic by around 6 dB. The effects of starting SNR and mixing method were significant but small, around 1−2 dB. These effects seemed more pronounced with antiphasic presentation. Overall, onsite and online DIN test results were comparable, with the largest observed difference being 1.30 dB. Conclusion: The selection of diotic or antiphasic sound presentation seems important, and antiphasic presentation may result in a more sensitive test. In contrast, the effects of the other parameters were small. The comparable onsite and online outcomes indicate that online testing via the internet could be a viable option for making the DIN test available to large populations.https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2025/01/aacus240120/aacus240120.htmldigits-in-noise testspeech reception thresholdspeech audiometryhearing screening test
spellingShingle Türüdü Soner
Koelewijn Thomas
Araiza-Illan Gloria
Hoogeveen Lisa
Gaudrain Etienne
Başkent Deniz
Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
Acta Acustica
digits-in-noise test
speech reception threshold
speech audiometry
hearing screening test
title Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
title_full Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
title_fullStr Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
title_full_unstemmed Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
title_short Digits-in-Noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal-hearing adults
title_sort digits in noise test implementations for onsite and online testing with normal hearing adults
topic digits-in-noise test
speech reception threshold
speech audiometry
hearing screening test
url https://acta-acustica.edpsciences.org/articles/aacus/full_html/2025/01/aacus240120/aacus240120.html
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