Speech audiometry is a battery of speech tests performed to understand the client’s ability to discriminate speech sounds, detect speech in background noise, understand the signals being presented, and recall the information presented.
How the PTA SRT Agreement Check Works
Measure introduces the PTA SRT Agreement check, a configurable, real-time validation that compares the patient's pure-tone average against their speech recognition threshold and surfaces alerts when results fall outside expected boundaries. One of our most requested features, it's now available to every Measure user.
Instant Assistant Alerts
The system flags PTA/SRT discrepancies in real time, distinguishing between questionable and failed agreement so you can act fast.
Configurable to Your Protocol
Set a single decibel threshold or a stepped threshold across hearing-loss categories. Configure the dB difference that triggers warnings, in line with your clinical practice and language requirements.
Advanced PTA Calculation
Select specific frequencies for the PTA calculation. The advanced mode automatically excludes frequencies with abrupt drops of ≥15 dB, producing a more robust comparator for SRT.
Standard and Advanced Shown Together
Both standard and advanced PTA values are visible to the audiologist, so the calculation behind any agreement check is always clear.
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Experience the perfect synergy of cutting-edge hardware and software solutions. Elevate patient care, streamline workflows, and achieve outstanding results. Discover how our innovative solutions can revolutionize your audiology practice and generate leads for your business. Take the first step towards unlocking your practice's full potential by contacting us now.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most individuals seeking help with their hearing cite difficulties understanding speech, and more often speech in noise. While pure tone audiometry provides invaluable data regarding the nature and severity of hearing loss at a variety of frequencies – of which speech is made up – it cannot provide data on the individual's understanding of speech. Speech stimuli are used in the audiometric test battery to ascertain this data.
There are a variety of commonly used speech stimuli and tests that help paint a complete patient picture.
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Speech recognition threshold (SRT) testing is often used to validate your pure tone audiometric results. In other words, does the lowest level an individual can detect speech correlate to the hearing loss obtained through pure tone audiometry? This score is also often used as a starting point in determining your presentation level when performing suprathreshold speech testing like word recognition scores (WRS).
When obtaining an SRT, spondee words, or phonetically balanced words, like hotdog or baseball, are used. A list of these words is presented to the patient at a comfortable level first – this is called conditioning. Once the patient is familiar with the word list, those same words will be presented in a random order at a decreasing volume level. The patient will be asked to repeat back the words presented. The threshold is defined as the level at which 50% of the words are successfully repeated.
Words can be presented through monitored live voice or recorded speech. With the Measure audiometer, clinicians have the flexibility to use whichever they prefer. Recorded spondee word lists can be made available in the testing software for a seamless transition from pure tones to speech testing. When using monitored live-voice, a VU meter is clearly displayed so clinicians can observe the level of their voice.
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A speech detection threshold (SDT) describes the lowest intensity level that an individual can detect speech. An SDT is obtained in the same manner as a speech recognition threshold, but the patient is asked to respond to the words in a developmentally appropriate way, like when performing pure tone audiometry, rather than repeating them back. This is useful when testing young children or individuals with very poor speech discrimination who are unable to repeat back words.
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A word recognition score (or a speech discrimination score) provides clinicians with valuable information regarding not only an individual’s hearing loss, but which treatment options will be the most appropriate.
WRS information not only assists in determining whether an individual is a good candidate for hearing aids or if another device like a cochlear implant may be indicated, but it can also help determine if there is a neural component to the hearing loss.
Scores are often classified into 1 of 5 categorized; excellent, good, fair, poor, and very poor.
Excellent or within normal limits = 90 - 100% on whole word scoring
Good or slight difficulty = 78 - 88%
Fair to moderate difficulty = 66 - 76%
Poor or great difficulty = 54 - 64 %
Very poor is < 52%
During speech audiometry, an individual's speech recognition threshold is used to determine an appropriate presentation level for obtaining a word recognition score. Alternatively, clinicians can measure a patient’s most comfortable loudness level (MCL) and present there.
Testing is most often performed in quiet but can be completed using background noise as well. Standardized word lists, like the W22 or NU-6 lists, are presented and the individual is asked to repeat back the words heard. A carrier phrase, for example “say the word” is often used. Having this phrase presented before the target word helps the patient prepare to listen and respond and helps the clinician adjust their voice to the proper level before the target word during monitored live-voice presentations.
Note that like with speech reception threshold testing, a recorded word list or live voice can be used derive a word recognition score. When using live voice, a clinician can watch the VU meter included in the Measure Software during the carrier phrase to check presentation level.
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While pure tones are an invaluable stimulus for measuring hearing loss, they don’t represent what individuals are experiencing day-to-day. Using speech stimuli helps to measure a client’s hearing using words they may encounter in everyday life.
Additionally, a speech test assesses the client’s full auditory pathway. In other words, the question is, once sound is detected, is the ear able to accurately send that sound to the brain? At times, although able to hear the words presented, individuals may have difficulty processing those words. This is something that can only be detected by using speech audiometry.
Measure E-learning
Welcome to Our E-Learning Course on Speech Audiometry in the Measure SoftwareDelve into Speech Audiometry with our targeted e-learning course. Learn key concepts like Speech Recognition and Discrimination Thresholds, Word Recognition Scores, and Quick SIN testing. Configure and navigate Measure Software settings, perform accurate tests, and analyze results to assess a client's real-world hearing capabilities. Equip yourself with the knowledge to improve both test accuracy and patient care.
Transform Your Audiology Practice Today!
Experience the perfect synergy of cutting-edge hardware and software solutions. Elevate patient care, streamline workflows, and achieve outstanding results. Discover how our innovative solutions can revolutionize your audiology practice and generate leads for your business. Take the first step towards unlocking your practice's full potential by contacting us now.