When to Mask for Speech Audiometry?

Masking will always be needed for suprathreshold testing when the presentation level in the test ear is 40 dB or greater above the best bone conduction threshold in the non-test ear if supra-aural phones are used.

Why might masking be used in speech audiometry?

Masking is a procedure clinicians use while conducting audiometry to separate ears acoustically. Masking allows for a clinician to get ear specific thresholds, without the non-test ear assisting the test ear to hear – resulting in better thresholds.

What is a normal speech recognition threshold?

Normal results would include air and bone thresholds of 25 dB or better, an MCL of approximately 50 dB, a Speech Reception Threshold of around 15 dB, a Word Recognition Score of 100% and type-A tympanometry.