- Hearing Test
Speech Audiometry Test
Speech Audiometry Test is a type of hearing test used to evaluate a person’s ability to understand and process spoken language at various volume levels. It is commonly employed by audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals to assess a patient’s speech recognition and discrimination abilities. The test is particularly useful in determining the extent of hearing loss and the potential benefits of hearing aids or other interventions.
What is the Impedance Test?
During a speech audiometry test, the patient typically wears headphones or earphones and is exposed to a series of recorded spoken words, phrases, or sentences presented at different intensity levels. The audiologist or tester may also use live speech. The patient is asked to repeat the words or sentences they hear, and their responses are recorded and analyzed.
Speech audiometry can be an essential component of a comprehensive audiological evaluation, and the results help guide the selection of appropriate interventions, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive listening devices. It can also be useful in monitoring changes in a person’s hearing abilities over time or in evaluating the success of hearing rehabilitation programs.
What Can the Speech Audiometry Reveals?
- Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)
This is the level at which a person can understand and repeat 50% of the presented speech material. It is often compared to the pure-tone audiogram to confirm the degree and configuration of hearing loss.
- Word Recognition Score (WRS)
This measures the percentage of correctly repeated words or phrases presented at a comfortable listening level. It helps assess how well the patient can discriminate and understand speech in ideal listening conditions.
- Speech Discrimination
This assesses the ability to distinguish between similar-sounding words or phonemes, which can be important in understanding speech in noisy or challenging environments.
- Importance
What Can the Impedance Test Reveal?
- Middle Ear Function
The Impedance Test helps determine if there are any issues with the movement of the eardrum or the middle ear bones (ossicles). It can detect problems such as fluid in the middle ear, perforated eardrum, or a blockage in the ear canal.
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
The test can identify conditions like Eustachian tube dysfunction, which may lead to ear infections and pressure imbalances.
- Hearing Aid Fitting
Impedance testing is valuable for hearing aid users. It ensures that hearing aids are appropriately fitted, preventing discomfort and optimizing their performance.