The Effect of Masking by Noise on Word Discrimination Scores in Listeners with Normal Hearing and with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Patients with high-frequency hearing loss often complain at the Workers' Compensation Board that they find it difficult to hear speech in a noisy environment. This study was undertaken to test the validity of their complaints. The experiment had a 2x3x3 factorial design. The factors were subject group (normal hearing versus sensorineural hearing loss), stimulus level (65, 75, and 85 dB SPL), and speech-to-noise ratio (5, 12, and 19 dB). There were 6 subjects in each condition. Each subject was tested for his speech discrimination with three CID W-22 50-word lists, one in each of the three different speech-to-noise ratios. Both speech and pink noise were presented through loudspeakers in a sound field. The results support the patients' complaints. Possible explanations for the results are discussed.