[A simple audiometry test of speech intelligibility in background noise]

We propose a new audiometric test to assess French speakers' speech discrimination in noise. This soundfield test uses a standard cocktail-party background noise superimposed on Fournier's disyllabic word lists. The background noise is CD-recorded at constant 55 dB SPL. The discrimination score is measured at a signal-to-noise ratio of -5 dB, 0, and dB. In comparison with other audiometric tests in noise, our test requires only 5 minutes and is simple for both patient and audiologist. All patients are tested using the same standard condition, one that approaches daily life and uses a noise of moderate intensity. The result is reproducible and easy to calculate and graph. We propose this test for diagnosing in-noise speech intelligibility disorders and for assisting the process of conventional or implantable hearing-aid fitting.