Speech Audiometry Flashcards
Speech Audiometry
Requires the Audiometer
Must be 2 channel audiometer; allows for different tones/words to be played in each ear
The Speech May be Recorded:
CD, MP3, internal (preprogrammed in the audiometer), etc
MLV = monitored live voice (own voice)
Problems with MLV = voice quality, dialect; must keep consistent volume, must be monotone; not as accurate
VU Meter
Monaural
Binaural – goal, one ear with speech, other with static
VU meter measures loudness; should be at 0 on the meter; loudness + side, quieter - side
SDT
Speech-Detection Threshold
Used for: Kiddos (6mos to 2ish) No word understanding – foreign language speaker Profound SNHL Developmentally Delayed
Indicated when speech sounds are heard: “ba-ba-ba-ba” – words don’t matter, just some speech sound
SRT
Speech-Recognition Threshold
Lowest hearing threshold at which speech can barely be understood and repeated 50%
Spondaic words (spondees) Hotdog, cowboy, baseball, ice cream, sidewalk, toothbrush
Spondees
words with no inflection up and down or change in volume, pitch
ASHA Method SRT Testing
Familiarize client with words
Use the “down10, up5” method
Start @ 60 dBHL: present 5 words, one at a time
Drop 10 dBHL in intensity until the patient cannot respond correctly
Increase 5 dBHL until the patient responds correctly
Alternate SRT Testing
Do not familiarize with words
Start at 30 dBHL
If patient doesn’t respond, go to 50 dBHL
Increase by 10 dBHL as the patient needs more volume
Then use the down10, up5 method as needed
Speech/Pure Tone Relationship
The SRT should closely match the pure tone testing results on the audiogram
Closest to 1000Hz or btwn of 500Hz and 1000Hz
MCL
Most comfortable loudness
Patient indicates which level of speech is most comfortable
Speech is slowly increased until the patient says it’s too loud, then the volume is dropped
UCL
Uncomfortable loudness level *(UCL)
Some uncomfortable from loudness, others from the pressure
AKA:
Threshold of discomfort (TD)
Tolerance level
*Loudness discomfort level (LDL)
DR
Range of comfortable loudness or *Dynamic Range (DR)
Intensity range between threshold and UCL; how loud the patient can stand the sound
WRS
Speech-recognition scores (SRS) or Word-recognition score *(WRS)
Most commonly used as WRS
Live voice vs recorded speech
Measures how well a person should understand speech
Extent of speech understanding difficulty
Aids in proper amplification
Aids in diagnosis of site of lesion
PB
Phonetically balanced words (PB)
No emphasis on any part of the word
CID W-22; 50 words- 25 words per ear (word lists)
Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant Word List (CNC)
Consonant, vowel or dipthong, consonant
WRS Testing Methods
Speech!
Above the age of 4, they should be able to repeat what you say
Above the age of 3, use picture pointing
Big board with pictures of: hotdog, sailboat, baseball, toothbrush etc
Above the age of 2, attempt picture pointing
Below the age of 2, use the speakers (soundfield testing)!
Soundfield testing
Client sits in the middle of the speakers
Patient looks toward the speaker producing the sound
VRA
Soundfield Testing
Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (toy lighting up)
Can use speech or pure tones?
Downfall? Tests the better hearing ear
