VDB-Express Test

Learn about the Callisto™ system's VDB-Express test, which provides a quick estimate of signal-to-noise (SNR) loss for French listeners.

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VDB Express test screen, showing a mild SNR loss of 4.5 dB.

Callisto™ Support

Difficulty with hearing in background noise is a common complaint among hearing aid users. Therefore, the measurement of SNR loss (signal-to-noise ratio loss) is important because a person’s ability to understand speech in noise cannot be reliably predicted from the pure tone audiogram. The VDB-Express test was developed to provide a quick estimate of SNR loss for French listeners. A list of nine sentences with three key words per sentence is presented in speech babble noise. The sentences are presented at pre-recorded signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) which decrease in 3-dB steps from -18 dB (very easy) to 3 dB (extremely difficult). The SNRs used are: -18, -15, -12, -9, -6, -3, 0 and 3 dB, encompassing normal to severely impaired performance in noise.

Licensed AC440 Audiometry module within your Callisto™ hardware

VDB-Express License in your Callisto™ hardware

Calibrated Headphones, insert phones or Free-Field Speaker

Open the AC440 and enter the VDB-Express screen by selecting Menu | Tests | VDB-Express.

Select the output level. The channels are synchronised for this material to ensure that the correct SNR level is achieved.

Select a list in the corresponding dropdown. e.g. “Liste 2”.

Instruct the patient to repeat the sentences and try to ignore the noise that they will also hear through the headphones.

Three results can be seen. For the same wordlist, the unaided SNR score indicates a mild SNR loss, while the aided SNR loss is 1.5 dB, which is normal.

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