title: Phoneme and Word Scoring in Speech-in-Noise Audiometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding speech in background noise is difficult for many individuals; however, time constraints have limited its inclusion in the clinical audiology assessment battery. Phoneme scoring of words has been suggested as a method of reducing test time and variability. The purposes of this study were to establish a phoneme scoring rubric and use it in testing phoneme and word perception in noise in older individuals and individuals with hearing impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Words were presented to 3 participant groups at 80 dB in speech-shaped noise at 7 signal-to-noise ratios (-10 to 35 dB). Responses were scored for words and phonemes correct.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was not surprising to find that phoneme scores were up to about 30% better than word scores. Word scoring resulted in larger hearing loss effect sizes than phoneme scoring, whereas scoring method did not significantly modify age effect sizes. There were significant effects of hearing loss and some limited effects of age; age effect sizes of about 3 dB and hearing loss effect sizes of more than 10 dB were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing loss is the major factor affecting word and phoneme recognition with a subtle contribution of age. Phoneme scoring may provide several advantages over word scoring. A set of recommended phoneme scoring guidelines is provided.
authors.forename: Curtis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Billings
authors.forename: Tina M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Penman
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Lucas S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Baltzell
authors.forename: Garnett P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010700:Phonetics; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013067:Speech Perception; D055815:Young Adult