title: A demonstration of improved precision of word recognition scores.
abstract: PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to demonstrate improved precision of word recognition scores (WRSs) by increasing list length and analyzing phonemic errors. METHOD Pure-tone thresholds (frequencies between 0.25 and 8.0 kHz) and WRSs were measured in 3 levels of speech-shaped noise (50, 52, and 54 dB HL) for 24 listeners with normal hearing. WRSs were obtained for half-lists and full lists of Northwestern University Test No. 6 (Tillman & Carhart, 1966) words presented at 48 dB HL. A resampling procedure was used to derive dimensionless effect sizes for identifying a change in hearing using the data. This allowed the direct comparison of the magnitude of shifts in WRS (%) and in the average pure-tone threshold (dB), which provided a context for interpreting the WRS. RESULTS WRSs based on a 50-word list analyzed by the percentage of correct phonemes were significantly more sensitive for identifying a change in hearing than the WRSs based on 25-word lists analyzed by percentage of correct words. CONCLUSION Increasing the number of items that contribute to a WRS significantly increased the test's ability to identify a change in hearing. Clinical and research applications could potentially benefit from a more precise word recognition test, the only basic audiologic measure that estimates directly the distortion component of hearing loss and its effect on communication.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schlauch
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Micheyl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009622:Noise; D010700:Phonetics; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D055815:Young Adult