Abstract
In this study, we investigated a novel method for the assessment of adults with Listening Difficulties (LiD). The subjects included 16 subjects each in the LiD and normal hearing groups. We administered the a dichotic listening test under two conditions, normal and rapid speech rates, to the subjects.
The results showed that in both groups, the speech perception score was significantly lower in the rapid rate condition than in the normal rate condition. In addition, the LiD group showed a significantly reduced speech perception score under both the speech rate conditions as compared with the normal hearing group, although the difference was not significant.
In the present study, the test was made more difficult by increasing the speech rate. However, we found no difference in the speech perception scores between the LiD and normal hearing groups, and it is not possible at this time to establish this method an evaluation method to clarify the features of LiD. Further testing of the method in the future is necessary.
