The Application of an Adaptive Speech Perception Procedure to Older Listeners

This investigation was conducted to examine whether adaptive, up-down, speech perception procedures predicted the level yielding 50% correct response as well for older listeners as for younger listeners. The 50% criterion level for NU6 stimuli was estimated via an adaptive procedure in quiet and in two noise conditions for ten older (ages 67-84) and ten younger (ages 20-27) subjects, all with hearing threshold levels < 25 dB HL for the octave frequencies 250-4,000 Hz. Word recognition scores were obtained at the levels estimated by the adaptive procedure. The older group means were closer to 50% in two of the three conditions. No significant group difference was found in the third condition.