Development of open-set test in Marathi language for assessing speech identification performance of native children

Purpose: Speech identification score (SIS) testing has been used in every phase of the audiological test battery. We developed an open-set test in Marathi for assessing the speech identification performance of native children. Methods: The development of the test took place in three phases which included the development of word lists, recording of word lists, and SIS testing. The developed test consisted of four word-lists with each list consisting of 15 monosyllabic words in CVC structure and 10 disyllabic words in CVCV structure. The recording was performed in a sound-treated room where ambient noise levels were maintained as per the permissible levels. SIS testing was performed on a total of 90 children with normal hearing who were equally divided into three groups. Groups I, II, and III consisted of children in the range between 6 and 6.11 years, 7 and 7.11 years, and 8 and 8.11 respectively. Results: The data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and the results revealed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in SIS between three groups for each word list and between four word-lists for each group. The overall groups’ mean SIS were 99.15%, 98.97%, 99.06%, and 99.02% for four word-lists respectively, and were falling within the normal range (90 to 100%). Conclusions: Findings of the present study are in line with the findings of research reports on other Indian languages. The four word-lists developed in the present study were found to be equally difficult, reliable, and valid test materials in Marathi for assessing native children.