Work

Validation of the Korean Sentence-Word Identification and Recall Test: Assessing Cognitive Spare Capacity in Noise

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Sentence Final Word Identification and Recall (SWIR) test is a well-established tool for estimating listening effort under ecologically valid conditions. However, the original task targeting sentence-final words may be less suitable for topic-prominent languages like Korean. We present the Korean version (K-SWIR), which was adapted to assess sentence-first word recall to reflect the linguistic structure of Korean. This study aimed to validate the K-SWIR in normal-hearing adults by examining correlations with working memory capacity and analyzing pupillary responses. METHODS: Sixty-five normal-hearing adults participated in two experiments using 14 seven-sentence lists derived from the Korean Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT). Participants performed the K-SWIR under three listening conditions: quiet, continuous noise, and four-talker babble. Cognitive function was assessed using the reading span (RS) test and the Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Pupillometry was recorded during stimulus encoding to measure physiological listening effort. RESULTS: = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The K-SWIR, adapted for sentence-first word recall, is a valid tool for measuring cognitive spare capacity in Korean speakers. The strong correlation with working memory in competing speech supports its utility for assessing auditory cognitive processing.

Source: Journal of Korean Medical Science

DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e266