[Relation between comfortable loudness and maximal speech intelligibility in children with sensorineural hearing loss]

Abstract

The levels of comfortable loudness and those of maximal intelligibility were evaluated in 88 schoolchildren with dull hearing (20-90 dB reduction). All the examinees had the levels of comfortable loudness in the range of the maximal intelligibility, this permitting it to be a criterion in determination of optimal amplification in hearing aids. A significant correlation exists between comfortable loudness and hearing threshold at 500 Hz frequency, mean hearing threshold in the range of the principal speech frequencies 500-2000 Hz and in the range of the safest speech frequencies 250-1000 Hz. However, the range of the individual values of comfortable speech intensity in the same hearing thresholds proved to be 15-25 dB for one-syllable words and 20-40 dB for the standard speech tables making it impossible to recommend the threshold parameters for calculation of optimal intensity of the speech to receive. The most reliable way to do this is the adjustment of the speech loudness level by subjective sensation of the child.