Time-compressed speech test: adaptation and validation

ABSTRACT Purpose: to adapt the Time-Compressed Speech Test and verify the applicability of the new test, correlating it with the original. Methods: the adaptation of Time-Compressed Speech Test was possible through the criterion of phonetic balance. It was used an editing software called Free Audio Editor to cut the words from the original test and generate the new file. From fifty words already presented in the original test, twenty-five were preserved in the new test. For the validation, were evaluated 73 subjects aged from 16 to 30 years-old, who performed the procedures of Hearing Anamnesis and of Auditory Processing, Visual Inspection of the External Acoustic Canal, Pure Tone Audiometry, Speech Audiometry, Acoustic Immittance Measurement, Diotic Testing, original Time-Compressed Speech Test and adapted Time-Compressed Speech Test. Results: a new list of 25 two-syllable words was created. There were differences between the number of errors and the percentages of correct answers by ear, between the original and the adapted Time-Compressed Speech Test. The strength correlation between the tests was moderate, thus the reference values of the original test could not be used in the adapted instrument. Conclusion: it was possible to adapt the Time-Compressed Speech Test observing a moderate correlation between both tests and verify the applicability of the Adapted Time-Compressed Speech Test. Therefore, the adapted test needs new reference values, in other words, normality criteria are required.