Selection of preeminent list in word recognition score test for adult with normal hearing

Abstract

Introduction: Speech audiometry is one of the most essential components of the current audiologic test battery. It provides information regarding hearing sensitivity and speech intelligibility at supra threshold levels. Considering the importance of the word recognition score (WRS) test and due to the lack of a uniform word recognition list to accomplish that test in Iran, we decided to evaluate people with normal hearing with the four most common lists used for clinical practice in order to select the preeminent one. Materials and Methods: In this non randomized descriptive-analytic study, thirty normal-hearing adults aged 18 to 40 years were evaluated. Test-retest reliability was achieved within a 2-week interval for the subjects. Results: The subjects’ scores ranged from %92 to %100 when the four lists were considered altogether. The mean scores of word recognition test for each individual list were as follows: list 2: %99/65, list 4: %94/13, list 5: %98, and list 9: %98/53. List 9 was the most reliable one in adults with normal hearing. Conclusion: All the four lists evaluated possess both phonetic and word reliability and the subtle differences between their reliability scores are not statistically significant. Keywords: Word recognition score (WRS), Preeminent list, Validity, Reliability