ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Audiol. Otol.
Sec. Technology and Innovation in Auditory Implants and Hearing Aids
Comparison of App-Based and Clinically Administered Matrix Sentence Tests in Cochlear Implant Users
Provisionally accepted
- 1Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
- 2Advanced Bionics GmbH, Fellbach, Germany
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Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a smartphone-based, self-administered matrix sentence test for assessing speech perception in cochlear implant (CI) users, and to compare its outcomes with those of the standard clinical Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA) in free-field conditions. Methods: Nineteen adult CI users (12 experienced, 7 newly implanted) completed a standard open-set OLSA testing and a closed-set version using a research smartphone app with direct Bluetooth streaming to their hearing devices in a sound-treated room. The app presented five response alternatives per sentence and estimated speech reception thresholds (SRTs) at 60% word recognition to account for increased chance level. Test-retest differences and between-group effects were analyzed using mixed-model ANOVA and post hoc t-tests. Results: All participants were able to complete the smartphone-based test independently. SRTs obtained via the app showed strong agreement with clinical measures, particularly among experienced users. Larger deviations were observed in three newly implanted participants. The ANOVA revealed a significant effect of experience level (p = 0.02), but no effect of test method and no interaction. Usability was rated high, and the simplified five-option interface was well tolerated across age groups. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that smartphone-based matrix sentence testing with direct audio streaming is a feasible and reliable method for assessing speech-in-noise perception in CI users. This approach offers potential for remote monitoring and self-assessment beyond the clinical setting.
Keywords: matrix sentence test, Remote audiology, cochlear implant, Oldenburg sentence test, MHealth (mobile Health)
Received: 27 Aug 2025; Accepted: 31 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kliesch, Brendel, Schulte, Lenarz and Büchner. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Sven Kliesch, kliesch.sven@mh-hannover.de
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