Impact of High-Frequency Hearing Sensitivity on Speech Perception in Noise: Insights from the Perszian Quick Speech-in-Noise Test
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Abstract
Background and Aim: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent occupational concern, affecting high-frequency hearing sensitivity, which may impair speech perception in noisy environments. This study investigates the relationship between high-frequency hearing thresholds (4000–12500 Hz) and speech perception in noise, using the Persian Quick Speech-in-Noise (Quick SIN) test. The aim was to determine how these thresholds and speech perception in quiet correlate with and predict speech perception difficulties in noise.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 participants aged 18–60 at the Center for Research on Occupational Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, from March to August 2024. Participants underwent audiometric testing for conventional (250–8000 Hz) and extended high-frequency (12500 Hz) thresholds, word recognition score (WRS), and the Persian Quick SIN test (basic and high-frequency lists). Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations and multiple linear regression models evaluated relationships and predictive factors, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Strong positive correlations were observed between basic and high-frequency signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss and hearing thresholds at 4000–12500 Hz (r/ρ=0.738–0.84, p<0.001), with strong negative correlations with WRS (ρ=-0.756 to -0.785, p<0.001). Regression models identified 8000 and 12500 Hz thresholds, WRS, and education level as significant predictors of SNR loss (R²=0.764–0.812). High-frequency list SNR loss was significantly lower than basic list SNR loss (p<0.001).
Conclusion: High-frequency hearing sensitivity, particularly at 8000 and 12500 Hz, significantly impacts speech perception in noise. Integrating high-frequency audiometry and speech-in-noise testing into occupational health assessments can improve early detection and management of NIHL.
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22. Portnuff C, Bell B. Effective use of speech-in-noise testing in the clinic Hear J. 2019; 72(5):40-2. [DOI:10.1097/01.HJ.0000559502.51932.b1]
23. Fatahi J, Jahromi MA, Hajiabolhassan F, Jafarpisheh A, Rahbar N, Faghihzadeh E. Development of the Persian version of high-frequency emphasis quick speech in noise. Aud Vestib Res. 2019; 28(3):173-81. [DOI:10.18502/avr.v28i3.1228]
24. Arbab H, Moossavi A, Javanbakht M, Arbab sarjoo H, Bakhsh E, MahmoodiBakhtiari B, et al. Development and psychometric evaluation of persian version of the quick speech in noise test in Persian Speaking 18-25 Years Old Normal Adults. J Rehabil Sci Res. 2016; 3(3):51-6 10. [DOI:10.30476/jrsr.2016.41099]
25. Li B, Guo Y, Yang G, Feng Y, Yin S. Effects of various extents of high-frequency hearing loss on speech recognition and gap detection at low frequencies in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Neural Plast. 2017; 2017:8941537. [DOI: 10.1155/2017/8941537] [PMID]
26. Patro C, Monfiletto A, Singer A, Srinivasan NK, Mishra SK. Midlife speech perception deficits: Impact of extended high-frequency hearing, peripheral neural function, and cognitive abilities. Ear Hear. 45(5):1149-64. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000001504] [PMID]
27. Jacewicz E, Alexander JM, Fox RA. Introduction to the special issue on perception and production of sounds in the high-frequency range of human speecha). J Acoust Soc Am. 2023; 154(5):3168-72. [DOI:10.1121/10.0022496] [PMID]
28. Trine A, Monson BB. Extended high frequencies provide both spectral and temporal information to improve speech-in-speech recognition. Trends Hear. 2020; 24:2331216520980299. [DOI:10.1177/2331216520980299] [PMID]
29. Best V, Carlile S, Jin C, van Schaik A. The role of high frequencies in speech localization. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005; 118(1):353-63. [DOI:10.1121/1.1926107] [PMID]
30. Monson BB, Rock J, Schulz A, Hoffman E, Buss E. Ecological cocktail party listening reveals the utility of extended high-frequency hearing. Hear Res. 2019; 381:107773. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.107773] [PMID]
31. Vitela AD, Monson BB, Lotto AJ. Phoneme categorization relying solely on high-frequency energy. J Acoust Soc Am. 2015;137(1):El65-70. [DOI:10.1121/1.4903917] [PMID]
32. Halkosaari T, Vaalgamaa M, Karjalainen M. Directivity of artificial and human speech. J Audio Eng Soc. 2005; 53(7/8):620-31.
33. Monson BB, Hunter EJ, Story BH. Horizontal directivity of low- and high-frequency energy in speech and singing. J Acoust Soc Am. 2012;132(1):433-41.[DOI:10.1121/1.4725963]
34. Yeend I, Beach EF, Sharma M, Dillon H. The effects of noise exposure and musical training on suprathreshold auditory processing and speech perception in noise. Hear Res. 2017; 353:224-36. [DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2017.07.006]
2. Yongbing S, Martin WH. Noise induced hearing loss in China: A potentially costly public health Lssue. J otol. 2013; 8(1):51-6. [DOI:10.1016/S1672-2930(13)50007-9]
3. World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss. Geneva:(WHO); 2021. [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss]
4. Etemadinezhad S, Sammak Amani A, Moosazadeh M, Rahimlou M, Samaei SE. Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2023;52(2):278-289. [DOI:10.18502/ijph.v52i2.11881]
5. Hunter LL, Monson BB, Moore DR, Dhar S, Wright BA, Munro KJ, et al. Extended high frequency hearing and speech perception implications in adults and children. Hear Res. 2020; 397:107922. [DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2020.107922] [PMID]
6. Motlagh Zadeh L, Silbert NH, Sternasty K, Swanepoel W, Hunter LL, Moore DR. Extended high-frequency hearing enhances speech perception in noise. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019; 116(47):23753-9. [DOI:10.1073/pnas.1903315116] [PMID]
7. Peelle JE, Wingfield A. The neural consequences of age-related hearing loss. Trends Neurosci. 2016; 39(7):486-97. [DOI:10.1016/j.tins.2016.05.001] [PMID]
8. Miles K, Weisser A, Kallen RW, Varlet M, Richardson MJ, Buchholz JM. Behavioral dynamics of conversation, (mis)communication and coordination in noisy environments. Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):20271. [DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-47396-y] [PMID]
9. Pienkowski M. On the Etiology of Listening Difficulties in Noise Despite Clinically Normal Audiograms. Ear Hear. 2017; 38(2):135-48. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000000388] [PMID]
10. Jiang Z, Wang J, Feng Y, Sun D, Zhang X, Shi H, et al. Analysis of early biomarkers associated with noise-induced hearing loss among shipyard workers. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Sep 1;4(9):e2124100. [DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.24100] [PMID]
11. Wilson RH, McArdle RA, Smith SL. An Evaluation of the BKB-SIN, HINT, QuickSIN, and WIN Materials on Listeners with Normal Hearing and Listeners with Hearing Loss. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2007;50(4):844-56. [DOI:10.1044/1092-4388(2007/059)]
12. Sultan O, Elmahallawy TH, kolkaila EA, Lasheen RM. Comparison between Quick Speech in Noise Test (QuickSIN test) and Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) in Adults with Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Egypt J Ear Nose Throat Allied Sci. 2020; 21(3):176-85. [DOI: 10.21608/ejentas.2020.28080.1195]
13. Hanilou J, Fatahi J, Tahaei AA, Jalaie S. List equivalency of the Persian quick speech in noise test on hearing impaired subjects. Aud Vestib Res. 2016; 25(1):7-13.
14. Mehrparvar AH, Mirmohammadi SJ, Ghoreyshi A, Mollasadeghi A, Loukzadeh Z. High-frequency audiometry: A means for early diagnosis of noise-induced hearing loss. Noise Health. 2011; 13(55):402-6. [DOI:10.4103/1463-1741.90295] [PMID]
15. Lough M, Plack CJ. Extended high-frequency audiometry in research and clinical practice. J Acoust Soc Am. 2022;151(3):1944. [DOI:10.1121/10.0009766]
16. Le TN, Straatman LV, Lea J, Westerberg B. Current insights in noise-induced hearing loss: A literature review of the underlying mechanism, pathophysiology, asymmetry, and management options. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017; 46(1):41. [DOI:10.1186/s40463-017-0219-x] [PMID]
17. Riga M, Korres G, Balatsouras D, Korres S. Screening protocols for the prevention of occupational noise-induced hearing loss: The role of conventional and extended high frequency audiometry may vary according to the years of employment. Med Sci Monit. 2010;16(7):Cr352-6. [DOI:10.12659/msm.880932] [PMID]
18. Badri R, Siegel JH, Wright BA. Auditory filter shapes and high-frequency hearing in adults who have impaired speech in noise performance despite clinically normal audiograms. J Acoust Soc Am. 2011; 129(2):852-63. [DOI:10.1121/1.3523476] [PMID]
19. Yeend I, Beach EF, Sharma M. Working memory and extended high-frequency hearing in adults: Diagnostic predictors of speech-in-noise perception. Ear Hear. 2019 May/Jun;40(3):458-67. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000000640] [PMID]
20. Mishra SK, Saxena U, Rodrigo H. Extended high-frequency hearing impairment despite a normal audiogram: Relation to early aging, speech-in-noise perception, cochlear function, and routine earphone use. Ear Hear. 2022; 43(3):822-35. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000001140] [PMID]
21. Koerner TK, Gallun FJ. Speech understanding and extended high-frequency hearing sensitivity in blast-exposed veteransa). J Acoust Soc Am. 2023; 154(1):379-87. [DOI:10.1121/10.0020174] [PMID]
22. Portnuff C, Bell B. Effective use of speech-in-noise testing in the clinic Hear J. 2019; 72(5):40-2. [DOI:10.1097/01.HJ.0000559502.51932.b1]
23. Fatahi J, Jahromi MA, Hajiabolhassan F, Jafarpisheh A, Rahbar N, Faghihzadeh E. Development of the Persian version of high-frequency emphasis quick speech in noise. Aud Vestib Res. 2019; 28(3):173-81. [DOI:10.18502/avr.v28i3.1228]
24. Arbab H, Moossavi A, Javanbakht M, Arbab sarjoo H, Bakhsh E, MahmoodiBakhtiari B, et al. Development and psychometric evaluation of persian version of the quick speech in noise test in Persian Speaking 18-25 Years Old Normal Adults. J Rehabil Sci Res. 2016; 3(3):51-6 10. [DOI:10.30476/jrsr.2016.41099]
25. Li B, Guo Y, Yang G, Feng Y, Yin S. Effects of various extents of high-frequency hearing loss on speech recognition and gap detection at low frequencies in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Neural Plast. 2017; 2017:8941537. [DOI: 10.1155/2017/8941537] [PMID]
26. Patro C, Monfiletto A, Singer A, Srinivasan NK, Mishra SK. Midlife speech perception deficits: Impact of extended high-frequency hearing, peripheral neural function, and cognitive abilities. Ear Hear. 45(5):1149-64. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000001504] [PMID]
27. Jacewicz E, Alexander JM, Fox RA. Introduction to the special issue on perception and production of sounds in the high-frequency range of human speecha). J Acoust Soc Am. 2023; 154(5):3168-72. [DOI:10.1121/10.0022496] [PMID]
28. Trine A, Monson BB. Extended high frequencies provide both spectral and temporal information to improve speech-in-speech recognition. Trends Hear. 2020; 24:2331216520980299. [DOI:10.1177/2331216520980299] [PMID]
29. Best V, Carlile S, Jin C, van Schaik A. The role of high frequencies in speech localization. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005; 118(1):353-63. [DOI:10.1121/1.1926107] [PMID]
30. Monson BB, Rock J, Schulz A, Hoffman E, Buss E. Ecological cocktail party listening reveals the utility of extended high-frequency hearing. Hear Res. 2019; 381:107773. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.107773] [PMID]
31. Vitela AD, Monson BB, Lotto AJ. Phoneme categorization relying solely on high-frequency energy. J Acoust Soc Am. 2015;137(1):El65-70. [DOI:10.1121/1.4903917] [PMID]
32. Halkosaari T, Vaalgamaa M, Karjalainen M. Directivity of artificial and human speech. J Audio Eng Soc. 2005; 53(7/8):620-31.
33. Monson BB, Hunter EJ, Story BH. Horizontal directivity of low- and high-frequency energy in speech and singing. J Acoust Soc Am. 2012;132(1):433-41.[DOI:10.1121/1.4725963]
34. Yeend I, Beach EF, Sharma M, Dillon H. The effects of noise exposure and musical training on suprathreshold auditory processing and speech perception in noise. Hear Res. 2017; 353:224-36. [DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2017.07.006]
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How to Cite
1.
Nazeri S, Pouryaghoub G, Mehrdad R, Fatahi F, Vahdati T. Impact of High-Frequency Hearing Sensitivity on Speech Perception in Noise: Insights from the Perszian Quick Speech-in-Noise Test. Aud Vestib Res. 2025;.
