Evaluation of Asymmetries in Speech-in Noise Abilities in Audiologic Screening for Vestibular Schwannoma

OBJECTIVES: Measures of speech-in-noise, such as the QuickSIN, are increasingly common tests of speech perception in audiologic practice. However, the effect of vestibular schwannoma (VS) on speech-in-noise abilities is unclear. Here, we compare the predictive ability of interaural QuickSIN asymmetry for detecting VS against other measures of audiologic asymmetry. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients in our institution who received QuickSIN testing in addition to a regular audiologic battery between September 2015 and February 2019 was conducted. Records for patients with radiographically confirmed, unilateral, pretreatment VSs were identified. The remaining records excluding conductive pathologies were used as controls. The predictive abilities of various measures of audiologic asymmetry to detect VS were statistically compared. RESULTS: Our search yielded 73 unique VS patients and 2423 controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that QuickSIN asymmetry was more sensitive and specific than pure-tone average asymmetry and word-recognition-in-quiet asymmetry for detecting VS. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that QuickSIN asymmetry was more predictive of VS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.10, 1.38], p < 0.001) than pure-tone average asymmetry (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.00, 1.07], p = 0.025) and word-recognition-in-quiet asymmetry (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.99, 1.06], p = 0.064). CONCLUSION: Between-ear asymmetries in the QuickSIN appear to be more efficient than traditional measures of audiologic asymmetry for identifying patients with VS. These results suggest that speech-in noise testing could be integrated into clinical practice without hindering the ability to identify retrocochlear pathology.