This research sought to develop a low-cognitive-load speech-in-noise test based on consonant confusions with the potential for assessing hearing-aid benefit.
This preprint presents a promising low-cognitive-load speech-in-noise tool for measuring hearing aid benefit, but clinical adoption should await peer-reviewed publication and independent validation.
A validated, low-burden consonant confusion test could give audiologists a more sensitive and practical tool for objectively quantifying hearing aid benefit in routine clinical settings.
- 01A consonant confusion task in noise was designed specifically to measure hearing aid benefit.
- 02Test was engineered to minimize cognitive load, making it more accessible for older or cognitively impaired patients.
- 03Preprint (medRxiv) — not yet peer reviewed; findings should be treated as preliminary.
- 04Could complement or replace existing speech-in-noise tests for hearing aid outcome assessment.
- 05Clinical application data included alongside test development methodology.
The consonant confusion task is suitable for evaluating hearing aid benefit in clinical practice.
studypartially supportedThe test imposes low cognitive load compared to standard speech-in-noise assessments.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42078375
- DOI
- 10.64898/2026.04.23.26351598.
- Journal
- medRxiv
- Publication type
- preprint
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Hearing aid users evaluated in a clinical setting
- Intervention
- Consonant confusion speech-in-noise task to assess hearing aid benefit
Primary outcomes
Accuracy of consonant identification in noise with and without hearing aids; Clinical utility of the task for measuring hearing aid benefit