BPACE: A Bayesian, Patient-Centered Procedure for Matrix Speech Tests in Noise.

The study only tested normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant users, so it does not show how the method performs for hearing aid users or other clinical groups. The time saving was much smaller for implant users, because their results took more sentences to become reliable. The new method is less accurate at estimating the steepness of the hearing curve, because it prioritises finding the threshold over measuring the slope. The test was not fully blinded, as participants could hear that the noise level was changing, which may have influenced their effort ratings. The study used German sentences, so the thresholds reported may not apply directly to other languages.

The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the scientific fund of the ENT clinic at Inselspital Bern, and open access funding came from the University of Bern.

Do not assume the new test will always be quicker for every patient. The time saving depends on how consistent the listener's responses are, and patients with cochlear implants often need the full 30 sentences to get a reliable result, so they may not benefit from the early termination.