title: Digit speech recognition threshold (SRT) in children with normal hearing ages 5-8 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare digit stimuli to popular spondees when measuring speech recognition threshold (SRT) in children with normal hearing and to determine the influence of increment size using a descending method (ASHA, 1988).
  
  
  METHODS
  SRT was measured with paired digit stimuli (D-SRT) and pediatric word stimuli (W-SRT) using 2 step sizes (5 dB, 2 dB) in 30 typically developing children with normal hearing ages 5;0 (years;months) to 8;11. Pure-tone and SRT tests were administered in both ears. The D-SRT and W-SRT were compared to pure-tone average (PTA) thresholds per ear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction of test and step size: PTA was significantly lower when measured with 2-dB than with 5-dB increment; however, step size yielded no differences in D-SRT and W-SRT. Right ear thresholds across tests were significantly lower than left ear. Pearson correlations were significant for all tests except two; D-SRT was highly correlated to W-SRT (r = .49-.72) in both ears. Regression analyses for both ears and step sizes revealed that prediction of the hearing threshold for speech from PTA was equally accurate for SRT measured with digit pairs or popular pediatric spondee stimuli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Digit pairs are an appropriate alternative stimulus for SRT measurement in children with normal hearing. Future diagnostic audiology implications, including application for other pediatric populations, are discussed.
authors.forename: Ishara
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramkissoon
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estis
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaal Flagge
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012984:Software; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*