Psychometric Evaluation of Digitally Recorded Urdu Spondee Word List for Speech Reception Threshold Testing

The speech reception threshold (SRT) test is a fundamental component of audiological assessment. It helps in assessment of speech recognition, fitting of hearing aids and cochlear implant. This test facility is not available for Urdu speakers. Thus, the objective of the study is to digitally record and psychometrically evaluate Urdu spondee word list for SRT testing.

A total of n = 107 spondee words were selected from a prior study. These words were recorded digitally by a native female Urdu speaker in a studio. The words were presented to normal hearing Urdu speakers between -10 and 20 decibels of hearing levels (dB HL). The performance intensity of these words was assessed psychometrically as intercept, slope, threshold, slope at 50%, slope between 20 and 80%. The minor intensity adjustment of each word was made equivalent to threshold. The words with slope steeper than ≥7%/dB were included in the final list.

A list of 46 Urdu spondee words was finalized. The average psychometric slope of these final words between 20% and 80% was 7.06-10.70%/dB ± 0.83. The slope at 50% ranged from 8.33%/dB HL to 13.33%/dB HL ± 1.56 dB. The threshold for the 46 spondee words varied from 7.43 dB to 10.80 dB HL ± 0.77 dB.

Digitally recorded Urdu spondee word list is valid for assessment of SRT testing in Urdu speakers.