Comparison of speech detection and spondee thresholds and half- versus full-list intelligibility scores with MLV and taped presentations of NU-6.

Several speech audiometric measurements were made on 212 ears with mild sensorineural hearing loss. An 8-dB difference between speech detection and spondee thresholds was observed, which is the same relationship that has been found in normal ears. No significant differences in speech discrimination scores (SDS's) were observed when NU-6 was administered via monitored live voice (MLV) and the Auditec recordings. Although our data support the use of MLV testing, verification with a standardized recording should be considered when unusually poor SDS's are obtained. Half-list and full-list SDS's were analyzed for both taped and MLV presentation modes. This analysis showed that both the MLV and taped stimuli exhibited very similar variability and that about 96% of the half-list scores were within 6% of the full-list scores. The clinician should be cautious, however, because 4% of the ears had half-list/full-list discrepancies ranging from 8 to 14% and differences as large as 28% have been reported by Raffin and Thornton (1977). Furthermore, variability between half-list and full-list SDS's varies as a function of intelligibility impairment, being least for scores approaching the extremes of 0 and 100% and greatest for scores in the 30 to 70% range. Finally, our data suggest that half-list testing can be an effective screening procedure to determine it full-list testing is advisable.