Development of the Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences (LiSN-S) Test in Brazilian Portuguese: Presentation Software, Speech Stimuli, and Sentence Equivalence

TL;DR

This paper describes the development of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the LiSN-S test, including speech database creation, software development, and preliminary validation with adults and children, aiming to aid diagnosis of hearing issues in noisy environments.

Contribution

It introduces a new Brazilian Portuguese LiSN-S test with a validated speech database and presentation software, enabling future normative and clinical use.

Findings

Speech database prepared with professional recordings

120 sentences selected for test based on word error rates

Framework ready for normative data collection

Abstract

The Listening in Spatialized Noise Sentences (LiSN-S) is a test to evaluate auditory spatial processing currently only available in the English language. It produces a three-dimensional auditory environment under headphones and uses a simple repetition response protocol to determine speech reception thresholds (SRTs) for sentences presented in competing speech under various conditions. In order to develop the LiSN-S test in Brazilian Portuguese, it was necessary to prepare a speech database recorded by professional voice actresses and to devise presentation software. These sentences were presented to 35 adults (aged between 19 and 40 years) and 24 children (aged between 8 and 10 years), all with normal hearing-verified through tone and speech audiometry and tympanometry-and good performance at school. We used a logistic curve describing word error rate versus presentation level, fitted for each sentence, to select a set of 120 sentences for the test. Furthermore, all selected sentences were adjusted in amplitude for equal intelligibility. The framework of LiSN-S in Brazilian Portuguese is ready for normative data analysis. After its conclusion, we believe it will contribute to diagnosing and rehabilitating Brazilian children with complaints related to hearing difficulties in noisy environments