Speech audiometry is one of the basic and indispensable diagnostic instruments for assessing
levels of hearing impairments. Speech audiometry is used to examine cognitive components
(detection, recognition and comprehension) of speech material, specific to the language group of
the patient. In Slovenia, the otorhinolaryngological clinics use a version of the Freiburg
monosyllabic speech recognition test. This version has certain weaknesses from diagnostic and
methodological point of view. The quality of adapted speech material is far from optimal, the
phonetic structure of speech material is not perfectly balanced, and the used monosyllabic words
are not comparable in comprehensiveness, discriminability, and the frequency of use in everyday
language. The basic drawback of the test is that it is time consuming, which results in fatigue and
large variation of the measured speech recognition thresholds within and across the measurement
sessions. The purpose of the research project was to develop (improve) speech audiometry tests
in order to provide faster and more efficient testing. Test development was based on
contemporary psychophysical methodology. Three adaptive methods were examined, and
semantic and phonetic aspects of speech material were improved. The staircase method proved
to be the most appropriate alternative to the Freiburg test. The results of the project enable
clinical diagnostics of speech impairments to be more accurate, which has positive consequences
for patients, producers of digital hearing aids, public health institutions, and clinics where speech
audiometry services are offered. With the new procedure patient examinations can be less time
consuming and more efficiently organised, and the rehabilitation of hearing impairments can be
more effectively planned and monitored.
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