Comparison of speech recognition threshold in noise using laboratory and clinical procedures

Abstract

Determining threshold for speech in quiet and as a function of increasing noise levels has been used to quantify the effects of hearing loss in terms of attenuation and distortion [R. Plomp, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 533–549 (1978)]. The speech recognition threshold (SRT) in noise has also been found to be a sensitive measure of electroacoustic changes in amplification [D. Van Tasell and J. Yanz, J. Speech Hear. Res.30 , 377–386 (1987)]. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was close correspondence between the laboratory measure of SRT in noise and a shortened clinical version using the Van Tasell and Yanz monosyllabic, high-frequency words. The clinical procedure was based on the SRT method recommended by the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association and involved two conditions, quiet and speech-shaped noise at a moderate intensity level. The derived values of attenuation and distortion were significantly correlated across the two procedures. [Research supported by NIDCD of NIH.]