Modified rhyme test and synthetic sentence identification test scores of normal and hearing-impaired subjects listening in multitalker noise.

Articulation functions were established for 35 normal hearing, 6 flat sensorineural, and 6 high frequency sloping sensorineural hearing-impaired subjects using the modified rhyme test (MRT) and synthetic sentence identification test (SSIT) in three message competition ratios (MCRs) of multitalker noise. An analysis of variance revealed significant differences between tests, subject groups, presentation conditions, and interactions between variables. Post hoc analyses revealed that SSIT functions were not significantly different among groups, and that MRT functions were different for each group. The MRT and SSIT were found to be two significantly different tests, each taxing different areas of discrimination. Results suggest that both tests can be used clinically with various MCRs of multitalker noise, but that the poorest MCR for each test does not aid in defining discrimination abilities.