Validation of list equivalency for Mandarin speech materials to use with cochlear implant listeners

AbstractObjectives: Speech materials validated with normal-hearing listeners may not be appropriate for clinical assessment of cochlear implant (CI) users. The aim of this study was to validate list equivalency of the Mandarin Speech Perception (MSP) sentences, disyllables, and monosyllables in Mandarin-speaking CI patients. Design: Recognition of MSP sentences, disyllables, and monosyllables each were measured for all 10 lists. Study sample: 67 adult and 32 pediatric Mandarin-speaking CI users. Results: There was no significant difference between adult and pediatric subject groups for all test materials. Significant differences were observed among lists within each test. After removing one or two lists within each test, no significant differences were observed among the remaining lists. While there was equal variance among lists within a given test, the variance was larger for children than for adults, and increased from monosyllables to disyllables to sentences. Conclusions: Some adjustment to test list...