R 17A User’s Manual – Page 82
4.2 Speech Audiometry
Speech audiometric test has become a fundamental tool in hearing-loss assessment, it also provides
information regarding discomfort or tolerance to speech stimuli and information on word recognition
abilities. Information gained by speech audiometry can help determine proper gain and maximum output
of hearing aids and other amplifying devices for patients with significant hearing losses.
Speech tests can be performed using registered speech material, available in several languages.
Information on patient’s speech hearing and understanding can be gained tracing a “Articulation Curve”;
after a short exercise at appropriate intensity, a curve that measures the understanding at various levels
of intensity can be obtained. Up to 10 values per each curve can be stored.
Speech audiogram: The intensity or loudness of the sound is measured in decibels (dB) on the abscissa,
on the ordinate the percentage of discrimination.
NOTE: The Articulation Curve varies according to phonemes content and meaning of the speech materiel
used.
It is possible to conduct tests using different masking signals as Speech Noise (SN) or White Noise (WN) to
define speech-detection threshold. SN focuses its spectrum of energy in those frequencies that are
characteristic of the voice, whereas White Noise uses the entire spectrum of frequencies with constant
energy.
Test execution
Press the SPEECH icon on the main page to access the test. The display will show the para-
meters set for both channels and the active function buttons.
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