Development and Validation of the italian Digit-in Noise test| ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica

Abstract

Objective: this research aims to validate the Digits in Noise test (DIN test) for the Italian language and develop a version capable of independently assessing both ears while maintaining acceptable administration times.

Methods: individual digits from 0 to 9 in italian were recorded and adjusted to equalize recognition probabilities. An iOS application (APP) was developed to independent ear test using triplets in noise. The application incorporates a new proprietary adaptive procedure developed by Amplifon to minimize the number of steps required to determine the Speech Reception Threshold (SRT).

Participants: 39 subjects for equalization of digits, 45 normal-hearing and 62 with varying hearing loss for normative-data assessment.

Results: The results demonstrate the ability to determine a threshold value for normal hearing consistent with existing literature and identify threshold values corresponding to the main World Health Organization (WHO) hearing loss (HL) categories.

Conclusions: The DIN test for the Italian language has been developed and validated to evaluate the SRT of each ear individually. The adaptive algorithm optimizes the necessary steps while maintaining acceptable test duration for both ears. Users can autonomously conduct the test using a standard personal iOS device (tablet or smartphone).