New technique better detects hearing loss.

• Position: Auditory System

A new technique to diagnose hearing loss in a way that more accurately reflects real-world situations is being worked on by a researcher from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

"The traditional method to assess speech understanding in people with hearing loss is to put them in a quiet room and ask them to repeat words produced by one person they can't see," explains Karen Iler Kirk, professor of speech, language and hearing sciences.

"The goal of our research is to develop new tests that reflect more natural listening situations with visual cues, different background noises, voice quality, dialects, and speaking rates. This is a more accurate way to predict how people perceive speech in the real world and, therefore, can help us determine appropriate therapy and interventions, such as cochlear implants."

Kirk is developing two new audiovisual and multitalker sentence tests that expand upon the traditional word recognition format that has been used since the 1950s. One test is for adults and the other for children. "The traditional spoken word recognition format has been used to determine the need for some sensory aids, such as hearing aids, which are used to amplify sound," Kirk explains. "However, it is not the best method for assessing the benefits of other sensory aids, such as the more expensive cochlear implants."

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A cochlear implant is an electronic device that can provide a sense of sound to someone who is deaf or severely hard of hearing. It is implanted surgically and picks up and processes sound that is...