Normative data for spatial release from masking (Jakien & Gallun, 2018)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report normative data and predict thresholds for a rapid test of spatial release from masking for speech perception. The test is easily administered and has good repeatability, with the potential to be used in clinics and laboratories. Normative functions were generated for adults varying in age and amounts of hearing loss.Method: The test of spatial release presents a virtual auditory scene over headphones with 2 conditions: colocated (with target and maskers at 0°) and spatially separated (with target at 0° and maskers at ± 45°). Listener thresholds are determined as target-to-masker ratios, and spatial release from masking (SRM) is determined as the difference between the colocated condition and spatially separated condition.Multiple linear regression was used to fit the data from 82 adults 18–80 years of age with normal to moderate hearing loss (0–40 dB HL pure-tone average [PTA]). The regression equations were then used to generate normative functions that relate age (in years) and hearing thresholds (as PTA) to target-to-masker ratios and SRM.Results: Normative functions were able to predict thresholds with an error of less than 3.5 dB in all conditions. In the colocated condition, the function included only age as a predictive parameter, whereas in the spatially separated condition, both age and PTA were included as parameters. For SRM, PTA was the only significant predictor. Different functions were generated for the 1st run, the 2nd run, and the average of the 2 runs. All 3 functions were largely similar in form, with the smallest error being associated with the function on the basis of the average of 2 runs.Conclusion: With the normative functions generated from this data set, it would be possible for a researcher or clinician to interpret data from a small number of participants or even a single patient without having to first collect data from a control group, substantially reducing the time and resources needed. Supplemental Material S1. The full audiogram data for each participant, along with gender, hearing aid use, and calculated values of PTA and asymmetry across ears. Jakien, K. M., & Gallun, F. J. (2018). Normative data for a rapid, automated test of spatial release from masking. American Journal of Audiology, 27, 529–538. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_AJA-17-0069研究目的：本研究旨在报告一项用于言语感知的掩蔽空间释放（spatial release from masking, SRM）快速测试的常模数据，并推导其阈值预测模型。该测试操作简便、重测信度优异，具备应用于临床与实验室场景的潜力。研究针对不同年龄与不同听力损失程度的成年人构建了常模函数。 测试方法：该掩蔽空间释放测试通过头戴式耳机呈现虚拟听觉场景，包含两种测试条件：声源同定位（靶声与掩蔽声均位于0°方位）与声源空间分离（靶声位于0°方位，掩蔽声位于±45°方位）。以靶声-掩蔽声强度比作为听者的阈值指标，掩蔽空间释放为同定位条件与空间分离条件下的阈值差值。本研究纳入82名年龄18~80岁、存在轻度至中度听力损失（纯音听阈均值[pure-tone average, PTA]为0~40 dB HL）的成年人，采用多元线性回归拟合其测试数据。随后通过回归方程构建常模函数，将年龄（以年计）与听力阈值（以纯音听阈均值PTA表示）分别关联至靶声-掩蔽声强度比与SRM值。 研究结果：所构建的常模函数在所有测试条件下的预测误差均小于3.5 dB。在同定位条件下，仅年龄作为预测参数纳入回归函数；而在空间分离条件下，年龄与PTA均作为预测参数被纳入。对于SRM值，PTA为唯一具有统计学意义的预测因子。本研究分别针对首次测试、第二次测试以及两次测试的平均值构建了不同的常模函数。三类函数的整体形式相近，其中以两次测试平均值为基础构建的函数预测误差最小。 研究结论：基于本数据集构建的常模函数，可使研究者或临床医师无需预先收集对照组数据，即可对少量受试者甚至单例患者的测试结果进行解读，大幅缩减所需的时间与实验资源。 补充材料S1：所有受试者的完整纯音测听数据，以及性别、助听器使用情况、计算得到的PTA与双耳听力不对称性数值。 Jakien, K. M., & Gallun, F. J. (2018). 掩蔽空间释放快速自动化测试的常模数据. 《美国听力学杂志》, 27, 529–538. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_AJA-17-0069