Nonsense syllable test (NST) results and hearing loss

Errors on a nonsense syllable test (NST) were compared to pure-tone thresholds and ages of 109 subjects with normal or sensorineural hearing loss. A strong correlation was found between the number of NST errors and hearing loss at 2000 and 250 Hz. NST errors do not appear to be related to the age of subjects. Excellent predictive relationships were found between total NST errors and a weighted pure-tone average for slight to marked sensorineural hearing loss. Implications for counseling, site of lesion, and amplification evaluation are discussed.