By Mostafa Darwish Akchair, student of the Master in Clinical Audiology and Hearing Therapy

Abstract

Speech perception in noise is important for everyday communication and a key element used in hearing tests. Standard pure tone hearing tests do not fully assess functional hearing abilities in noisy environments and this is why speech in noise tests (SIN) are needed. Many speech-in-noise tests are created and validated in different languages, but there are a few standardized tests available in Arabic, particularly in local dialects – like Lebanese Arabic – remains limited. This study gives a review of earlier research that examines the pre-existing speech in noise tests, with a specific focus on Arabic speakers and dialect differences. A systematic search of major scientific databases was performed for studies published between the years of 1990 to 2025 that discussed the development, validation, and clinical use of speech in noise tests. Results indicate that most Arabic speech in noise tests use Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or generalized dialect, which may not represent the ecological validity for Lebanese speakers. The review explains the strengths and weaknesses of current tools and points out the significant gap in validated SIN assessments tailored for Lebanese Arabic. These results show the need to develop dialect-based tests to improve clinical accuracy and research value. This thesis provides a foundation for future studies focused on creating and validating a Lebanese Arabic speech in noise test.

Keywords: speech-in-noise, Lebanese Arabic, audiology, Arabic dialects, hearing assessments, test validation.

Download the full Research Work: Akchair, M. D. (2026). Speech-in-Noise Testing in Arabic: Literature Review with Implications for Lebanese Arabic. SAERA