Development of a speech-in-noise test in european portuguese based on QuickSIN: a pilot study

Serrano, Margarida; Simões, Jéssica; Vicente, Joana; Ferreira, Maria; Murta, Ana; Ferrão, João Tiago

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/60068

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Development of a speech in noise test in european portuguese.pdf		436.52 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Abstract(s)

Background and Objectives: Speech-in-noise testing is essential for evaluating functional hearing abilities in clinical practice. Although the Quick Speech-in-Noise test (QuickSIN) is widely used, no equivalent tool existed for European Portuguese. This study aimed to develop a Speech-in-Noise Test for European Portuguese (SiN-EP), linguistically adapted and calibrated for native speakers, to support clinical assessment of speech perception in realistic listening environments. Materials and Methods: The SiN-EP was developed through a multi-stage process. Sentences were drafted to reflect natural speech patterns and reviewed by native speakers for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Selected sentences were recorded by a female native speaker in a controlled acoustic environment and mixed with multi-talker babble at signal-to-noise ratios (SNR (dB)) from 25 to 0 SNR (dB). A pre-test in a free-field setting at 65 dB SPL was conducted with fifteen normal-hearing young adults. Participants repeated each sentence, and their responses were analyzed to refine list composition, adjust difficulty, and ensure phonetic balance. Results: Intelligibility decreased systematically as SNR (dB) worsened, with ceiling effects at 25 and 20 SNR (dB). At 5 SNR (dB), high variability was observed, with set 5 showing disproportionate difficulty and set 14 containing an incomplete sentence; both were removed. At 0 SNR (dB), all sets demonstrated expected low intelligibility. The final test comprises thirteen lists of six sentences, each maintaining stable intelligibility, phonetic representativeness, and consistent difficulty across SNRs (dB). Conclusions: The SiN-EP provides a linguistically appropriate, phonetically balanced, and SNR (dB) calibrated instrument for assessing speech-in-noise perception in European Portuguese. The refinement process improved reliability and list equivalence, supporting the test’s clinical and research applicability. The SiN-EP fills a critical gap in assessing speech-in-noise perception in European Portuguese speakers, providing a reliable tool for both clinical and research applications.

Keywords

signal-to-noise ratio hearing difficulties auditory processing speech perception Portuguese

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/60068

Citation

Serrano, M.; Simões, J.; Vicente, J.; Ferreira, M.; Murta, A.; Ferrão, J.T. Development of a Speech-in-Noise Test in European Portuguese Based on QuickSIN: A Pilot Study. J. Otorhinolaryngol. Hear. Balance Med. 2025, 6, 22. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ohbm6020022