抄録
Speech discrimination and hearing aid performance in patients with hearing loss have been evaluated by speech audiometry where a tape or CD is utilized as a sound source. Since all sound samples in a list on the tape or CD are consecutively presented to the examinee, this conventional method provides the perception rate of the whole list. It has been difficult however, to evaluate the perception of a specific sound in the list.
We developed a new method of interactive speech audiometry. Using this method, the patient's response to each sound sample can be monitored at any required sound level. All sound samples such as the 5 vowels, 13 consonant-vowel syllables, and sentences are stored in a computer as sound files. Any sound sample can be randomly selected to present to the examinee, who replies verbally. Interactive speech audiometry can provide a more accurate evaluation of speech discrimination in patients with hearing loss.
