Development of a Speech-in-Noise Test in European Portuguese Based on QuickSIN: A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: The Quick Speech-in-Noise test is a widely used clinical tool for assessing an individual’s ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise. Building on this framework, the present study aimed to develop a Speech-in-Noise Test for European Portuguese (SiN-EP), specifically adapted for native speakers of European Portuguese. The goal was to create a reliable and linguistically appropriate tool to evaluate speech perception under realistic listening conditions. Materials and Methods: The development of the SiN-EP involved several stages. Sentences were drafted to reflect natural speech patterns and reviewed by native speakers for clarity and grammatical correctness. Selected sentences were recorded by a female native speaker in a controlled environment. The recordings were then combined with multi-talker babble noise at varying levels to simulate different listening situations, ranging from easy to challenging. A pre-test was conducted in a free field setting at 65 dB SPL with fifteen young adults with normal hearing. Participants listened to and repeated each sentence, and their responses were used to refine the test materials. Results: Participants understood the sentences clearly and consistently across all listening conditions, showing that the SiN-EP effectively reflects speech perception in noise. The final version included thirteen lists of six sentences, carefully designed to maintain natural phonetic balance and realistic speech structure. Conclusion: The SiN-EP represents a significant advancement in evaluating speech understanding in noise for Portuguese-speaking populations. This standardized and linguistically adapted test provides valuable information about auditory performance and supports both clinical assessments and research on hearing and auditory processing challenges.