Speech Test - Interacoustics AC40 Instructions For Use Manual

AC40 Instructions for Use - EN Page 22

3.5.7 Speech Test

Speech testing can be done via pre-recorded wave files (26) (if installed), microphone (27) or CD input
(28).
Most people acquire hearing aids because they themselves or their relatives report that they have trouble
hearing speech. Speech audiometry has the advantage of other speech signals and is used to quantify
the patient‟s ability to understand everyday communication. It examines the patient‟s processing ability in
relation to their degree and type of hearing loss which can vary greatly between patients with the same
hearing loss configuration.
Speech audiometry can be performed using a number of tests. For example, SRT (Speech Reception
Threshold) refers to the level at which the patient can repeat 50% of the presented words correctly. It
serves as a check of the pure tone audiogram, gives an index of hearing sensitivity for speech and helps
determine the starting point for other supra-threshold measures such as WR (Word Recognition). WR is
sometimes also referred to as SDS (Speech Discrimination Scores) and represents the number of words
correctly repeated expressed as a percentage.
Note that there is a predictable relationship between the patients pure tone threshold and speech
threshold. Speech audiometry may therefore be useful as a cross-check of the pure tone audiogram.
The speech screen set up in graph mode using live voice/MIC (27) - under Setup (19).
Hold in the Mic (27) and CD (28) button in to adjust the live voice or CD input level. Adjust the levels for
the until you reach an average of approximately 0 dB VU on the VU meter.
NOTICE
If the speech and calibration signal are not the same level, it must be manually corrected.