Master’s Students - Research Project

Research Team: Karina Théorêt, MSc (Otolaryngology), McGill University, BSc (Psychology), McGill University; Kendall Letwinetz, BSc (Environmental Sciences), King's University in Edmonton

Program:  MSc Audiology

Research Topic: Relationship Between Extended High-Frequency Hearing, Speech Perception in Noise, and Self-Reported Difficulty Hearing in Noise in Adults 

Research Project: While normal human hearing ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hz, traditional audiometric testing only measures hearing thresholds up to 8000 Hz. However, research suggests that ultra-high frequencies (above 8000 Hz) contribute to speech perception, particularly in noisy environments. As a result, extended high-frequency (EHF) testing may offer added value by providing insight into an individual’s speech-in-noise (SIN) abilities and serving as an early indicator of hearing loss. This study examines how adults aged 20 to 50 years old with normal hearing perform on SIN testing, as well as their self-reported difficulties during these tasks. We will analyze correlations among SIN scores, self-reported difficulties, EHF hearing thresholds, and other audiometric measures. Our goal is to strengthen the evidence linking EHF hearing to speech understanding in noise and emphasize the importance of incorporating EHF testing into routine hearing assessments.