The Study of Sensitivity and Specificity of Whispered Voice Test in Assessing Hearing among Public Drivers of a Regular Transportation Company in Samut Prakarn Province

Abstract

            This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to identify the sensitivity and specificity of whispered voice test (WVT) in comparison with pure tone audiometry (PTA) for screening hearing loss in public drivers. This study also aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and its potential contributing factors. The data collection was performed by using self-questionnaire and WVT as well as PTA for hearing test which were conducted among 170 public drivers of a regular transportation company in Samut Prakarn province. The hearing loss was diagnosed by using the WHO grades of hearing impairment (1991) and WHO grades of hearing loss (2020). The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics including multiple logistic regression. According to the WHO (1991) and WHO (2020) criteria, the results showed that the sensitivity (95% CI) of WVT in screening mild hearing loss were 77.66% (73.23 - 82.09) and 85.86% (82.15 - 89.56), while the sensitivity of WVT in screening moderate hearing loss were 70.10% (65.23 - 74.96) and 73.85% (69.18 - 78.52). The specificity (95% CI) of WVT in screening mild hearing loss were 51.97% (46.66 - 57.28) and 44.40% (39.12 - 49.68), while the specificity of WVT in screening moderate hearing loss were 96.55% (94.61 - 98.49) and 82.46% (78.41 - 86.50). The prevalence of hearing loss in public drivers of a regular transportation company were 34.71% (95% CI, 27.58 - 42.37) and 65.29% (95% CI, 57.63 - 72.42) respectively. Moreover, there were factors associated with this prevalence which consisted of age and gender. In conclusion, WVT with appropriate sensitivity and specificity can be used as a screening test for moderate hearing loss among public drivers.