Normative Data for Speech-in-Noise Perception Test in Young Adults with Normal Hearing: Gender and Ear Laterality Effects

Background and Aim: Adding noise to the speech audiometry tests increases the sensitivity and specificity of them. This study aimed to investigate the normative data for the Speech-in- Noise (SIN) perception test in normal-hearing adults aged 18–25, and evaluate the effect of gender and ear laterality on the test score. 
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 126 adults aged 18–25 years with mean(SD) of age: 22.28(1.61) years old participated. The SIN perception test using Persian monosyllabic words was performed in quiet and using 5 signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs; 0,± 5 and ± 10). 
Results: The mean of SIN perception score was 96.48, 91 and 82.79% at the SNRs of +10, +5, and 0 for the right ear, and 97.09, 91.42, and 84.11% at the SNRs of +10, +5, and 0 for the left ear, respectively. The interaction effect of gender and ear laterality had no statistically significant effect on the test results in quiet and at any SNRs (p>0.05). Moreover, the main effect of gender on the test score was not significant (p>0.05), and there was no significant difference in the test score between the right and left ears (p>0.05). 
Conclusion: Given the importance of including the SIN perception test in the routine audiology tests, considering normative data for this test is important. The normative data found in this study for this test can be routinely used in audiology clinics. 
Keywords: Speech-in-noise recognition; word-in-noise recognition; noise; normative data; gender; laterality