Audiogram-Average Methods and SRT Scores

Abstract

Pure-tone audiograms and SRT scores on 535 audiology patients were utilized. Binaural percent hearing loss and audiogram summary or average according to several methods were computed for each subject. Each subject had an SRT score obtained with a common clinical test. Product-moment correlations were computed between each pure-tone audiogram percent or summary method and SRT scores, with subjects categorized according to SRT test given and audiogram shape. Most between-test correlations were over 0.70 and many were over 0.85. In general, the AMA and the Fowler methods had less high correlations with SRT than the other methods. The two-frequency average had a general superiority over other methods and may be considered the method of choice for relating pure-tone audiograms to SRT. However, the differences among methods, including the Fowler and AMA percent methods, were small.