Preliminary evaluation of the speech perception assessment and training system (SPATS) with hearing‐aid and cochlear‐implant users

SPATS is evaluated as a testing and training system for hearing‐aid (HA) users and cochlear‐implant (CI) users. Criterion measures include the HINT, CNC tests, W22 tests, and Coxs CDT, parts of Gatehouses SSQ and a special SPATS inventory. SPATS measures include the identification of syllable constituents (onsets, nuclei, and codas) and measures of top‐down and combined top‐down and bottom‐up recognizing spoken sentences. Control subjects were measured on criterion and SPATS tests, and then retested after a pause of several weeks. Trained subjects took all of the same tests, but in the time between first and second testing underwent either 12 or 24 hours of systematic training using special SPATS algorithms that focus training on items of intermediate difficulty in quiet and noise. Trained subjects show gains on speech‐perception measures in quiet and noise, and in look‐and‐listen tasks, even though there was no training of visual speech perception. Subjects report that SPATS training and testing gave them a much clearer understanding of the severity of their hearing impairments and led to improved speech perception in everyday life through greater attention to detail, and to differences between talkers. [Supported by Grant No. R44DC006338 from NIH/NIDCD.]