Interlist Equivalence of the Word Intelligibility by Picture Identification Test Administered in Broad-Band Noise

Abstract

The effect of broad-band noise on the interlist equivalence of the Word Intelligibility by Picture Identification Test (WIPI) was examined. Subjects were 24 normally hearing children aged 6:7-9:1 years (years:months) who were assigned in equal numbers to one of three signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) conditions (S/N = 0, +2, +4dBSPL). Each child was administered all four lists of the WIPI under one of these noise conditions. No significant order, gender or ear effects were observed. Performance increased linearly with increasing S/N. Statistically significant mean differences were seen between lists, and individual interlist pairwise comparisons revealed differences exceeding chance occurrence. Pooled correlations of interlist equivalence were of moderate strength. Caveats regarding clinical application of the WIPI administered in noise are discussed.