Speech recognition thresholds in noisy areas: reference values for normal hearing adults.
In audiology clinics, complaints about difficulties in speech recognition in noise environments are frequent, even for normal-hearing individuals. Thus, the audiologist must not only identify a hearing loss, but also analyze speech recognition, under noisy conditions similar to those found in our daily lives.


OBJECTIVE
Determine the reference value for the recognition of phrases under noisy conditions, in the free field, for adult normal hearing patients.


METHODS
This study was carried out in 2005 and 2006. We had 150 adult normal hearing individuals participating, with ages between 18 and 64 years, assessed in a sound-proof booth. We evaluation was based on lists of phrases in Portuguese. The phrases lists were presented in the free field, in the presence of a competitive noise, at the fixed intensity of 65 dB H. The incidence angle of both stimuli was 0 masculine- 0 masculine azimuth.


CONCLUSIONS
The phrases recognition thresholds in the free fields were obtained in the signal to noise ratio of -8.14 dB H, which is the reference value for normal hearing individuals.
Marília Oliveira
MO
Henriques
Elisiane Crestani de
EC
Miranda
Maristela Julio
MJ
Costa
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D012016:Reference Values; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test