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Mueller & Killion (1990) published another simpified version of the Articulation Index in a article
titled "An Easy Method for Calculating the Articulation Index". They stated that while the Pavlovic
(1988) method has been well received, they saw two limitations of the method. First, that the half
octave frequencies of 3000 and 6000 Hz were not used and second,
"... for most of us, dividing by 120 still requires the use of a calculator.". For those
reasons, the authors created their count-the-dot method of AI calculation.
The count-the-dot-method allows for the weighting of different
bands according to their importance and the inclusion of between-octave
variations that can occur in a hearing loss. It has the added
benefit of ease of use because the only math required
is the ability to count to 100 (Mueller & Killion, 1990).
The
audiogram to your left has has been adapted (with permission*)
from the Mueller & Killion (1990) Count-The-Dot method. To calculate the AI one just has to count
the number of audible dots. The hearing loss plotted on audiogram to the
left has an AI of .44. Mueller and Killion (1990) went on to
state that there are at least three clinical uses of the
Articulation Index: (1) to predict from the audiogram the
amount of disability for normal-level conversational speech,
(2) predicting the benefit that will be obtained from a hearing
aid, and (3) comparing the benefit from one aid to another.
(Figure adapted from Mueller
& Killion, 1990).
Next Page of The Tutorial
*Mueller, H.G., Killion, M.C. (1990). An Easy Method For Calculating
the Articulation Index Hearing
Journal.
9:14-17.
Disclaimer
The material on these pages has been composed for viewing
audiologists who are solely responsible for the audiological care of
their own patients and are strongly urged to maintain close liaison with
the ENT and primary care physicians who provide medical
care to these individuals in their own community. All queries of a medical
nature must be directed to these physicians. The authors and coordinators
accepts no direct or implied responsibility for the application of information
contained herein.
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