Abstract
Background Speech audiometry materials are widely available in many different languages. However,
there are no known standardized materials for the assessment of speech recognition
in Arabic-speaking children.
Purpose The aim of the study was to develop and validate phonetically balanced and psychometrically
equivalent monosyllabic word recognition lists for children through a picture identification
task.
Research Design A prospective repeated-measure design was used. Monosyllabic words were chosen from
children's storybooks and were evaluated for familiarity. The selected words were
then divided into four phonetically balanced word lists. The final lists were evaluated
for homogeneity and equivalency.
Study Sample Ten adults and 32 children with normal hearing sensitivity were recruited.
Data Collection and Analyses Lists were presented to adult subjects in 5 dB increment from 0 to 60 dB hearing
level. Individual data were then fitted using a sigmoid function from which the 50%
threshold, slopes at the 50% points, and slopes at the 20 to 80% points were derived
to determine list psychometric properties. Lists were next presented to children in
two separate sessions to assess their equivalency, validity, and reliability. Data
were subjected to a mixed design analysis of variance.
Results No statistically significant difference was found among the word lists.
Conclusion This study provided an evidence that the monosyllabic word lists had comparable psychometric
characteristics and reliability. This supports that the constructed speech corpus
is a valid tool that can be used in assessing speech recognition in Arabic-speaking
children.
Keywords
Arabic language - speech audiometry - speech recognition assessment - phonetically
balanced word list - psychometric function
