Abstract Purpose: Accurate identification of both speech and environmental sounds is essential for everyday auditory experiences and soundscape perception. Individuals with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) often experience significant perceptual deficits, which may affect their ability to function effectively in daily auditory environments. The behavioral measures used in the audiological test battery include speech perception but not environmental sound perception (ESP). Exploring the relationships of behavioral measures of speech perception and ESP with self-perceived hearing abilities can be of clinical importance in the assessment and management of individuals with ANSD. Materials and Methods: Forty-two individuals diagnosed with ANSD participated in this cross-sectional study. Speech identification scores (SIS) were measured using phonemically balanced word list. The Familiar Environmental Sound Test was adapted to measure ESP scores. The stimuli were presented through headphones at the most comfortable level. Participants’ self-perceived hearing abilities were assessed using the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). SSQ scores were obtained using the pen-and-paper method. Results: Participants with ANSD showed significantly reduced scores on SSQ, indicating notable self-perceived auditory difficulties. Both SIS and ESP demonstrated moderate positive correlations with SSQ. Regression analysis revealed that ESP was a significant independent predictor of SSQ. Conclusions: The findings highlight the relationships of the behavioral measures of speech perception and ESP with self-perceived auditory challenges in individuals with ANSD. These findings suggest the importance of incorporating ESP in the evaluation of ANSD. This further suggests that rehabilitation strategies should focus on improving not only speech but alsonnnnnnnnnnnn environmental sound recognition to enhance everyday listening experiences.
Sasidharan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.