Practice effects for normal listeners' performance on a nonsense syllable test

Each of 4 groups (N: 5) of normal-hearing young adults responded to the consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel Nonsense Syllable Test (Edgerton and Danhauer, 1979). Groups I and II on any one day for 5 consecutive days received one presentation of both Lists A and B at 16 and at 56 db re individual SRT, with (Group II) or without (Group I) visual reinforcement as to the correctness of the response. Groups III and IV received 15 randomizations of List A (non-reinforced) in a single session at 16 or 56 db SL, respectively. S's were tested individually diotically; verbal responses were phonetically transcribed using both audio and visual cues, and were scored phonetically. There were no significant differences in means between Groups I vs II as a result of reinforcement, but differences were noted in both groups for presentation levels and trials (days). No practice effects were noted in Groups III and IV. The NST may be used for multiple administrations within a single session, as in deriving performance-intensity functions, or in hearing aid evaluations, without biases due to practice.