The digit triplet test: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This review article presents an overview of all Digit Triplet Tests (DTT) and digits-in-noise tests (DIN) and their variations in language, speech material, masking noise, test procedures, and targeted population. The effects on aspects of validity, reliability, and feasibility are investigated.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

STUDY SAMPLE

All studies referring to the DTT and DIN were collected from Pubmed and Embase. Search terms "digit triplet test" and "digits in noise" were used. Citations of selected articles were scanned backwards in time (the bibliography of the already selected research article) and forward in time (articles that cited the already selected research article). The search terms yielded 95 results in total. Eventually, 39 papers were selected.

RESULTS

Analyses showed psychometric reference-curves with steep slopes and speech reception thresholds with high measurement precision which are strongly associated with pure tone audiometry. High sensitivity and specificity to detect elevated pure tone thresholds were noted for test variants. Certain procedural modifications of the DTT and DIN can further improve the test. Additionally, large-scale application of the DTT and DIN is feasible.

CONCLUSION

The DTT and DIN are a very valuable tool for screening and diagnostics for a wide variety of populations.

Coffee consumption and risk of hearing impairment in men and women

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss is the fifth leading cause of disability in the world. Coffee consumption might have a beneficial effect on hearing function because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of some of its compounds. However, no previous longitudinal study has assessed the association between coffee consumption and the risk of hearing impairment.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prospective association between coffee consumption and risk of disabling hearing impairment in middle and older men and women from the UK Biobank study.

METHODS

Analytical cohort with 36,923 participants (16,142 men and 20,781 women) [mean (SD): 56.6 (7.8) years, 1.6 (1.4) cups/d, and -7.6 (1.3) dB for age, total coffee consumption and speech reception threshold in noise at baseline, respectively]. At baseline, coffee consumption was measured with 3-5 multiple-pass 24-h food records. Hearing function was measured with a digit triplet test, and disabling hearing impairment was defined as a speech reception threshold in noise > -3.5 dB in any physical exam during the follow-up. Analyses were stratified by sex and Cox regression models were used to assess the prospective association proposed.

RESULTS

Over 10 years of follow-up, 343 men and 345 women developed disabling hearing impairment. Among men, compared with those who consumed <1 cup/d of coffee, those who consumed 1, and ≥2 cups/d had a lower risk of hearing impairment (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.72 [0.54-0.97] and 0.72 [0.56-0.92], respectively; P-trend: 0.01). This association was similar for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and for filtered and non-filtered coffee, and was stronger in those with obesity (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] for consumption of ≥2 vs. <1 cups/d: 0.39 [0.21-0.74]). No association was found between coffee and hearing function among women.

CONCLUSIONS

Coffee consumption was associated with lower risk of disabling hearing impairment in men but not in women. The association appeared to be independent of the coffee type and the preparation method.