Chart review and factor analysis examining poorer-than-expected word recognition scores
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2016-07-28
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Towson University. Department of Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and Deaf Studies
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine commonalities between patient case history complaints, diagnoses, and test results, and cases presented in the literature. Patient files of individuals seen for audiological testing at the Towson University Institute for Well Being were reviewed. The total number of active, inactive, and archived audiology patient files totaled 2,554. Patients with a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss and poorer-than-expected word recognition scores, compared to Dubno et al. (1995), met study criteria. The number of patient files that met study criteria, and were included in statistical analysis, was 231 after exclusions (n = 163). Data were analyzed to determine any numerical (i.e., PTA, WRS) or case history complaints (i.e., difficulty in noise) significantly predicted poorer than-expected word recognition scores. Patient pure-tone average (average of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz) was the only significant predictor of poor word recognition scores. Individuals with sudden sensorineural hearing loss appeared to have markedly decreased word recognition scores, and individuals with OAE notches ≥15 dB appeared to have better word recognition scores, on average, compared to the individuals who did not present with this case history; however, inferential statistics were not calculated on this sub-population due to the small sample size. Future research should focus on a prospective study to determine statistical significance of case history variables, and additional rehabilitation options for individuals with poor word recognition abilities.