On the use of a three-words-per-item format in tests for the hearing of speech

Single-word lists and sentence lists each have their own advantages and disadvantages for testing hearing for speech. A short history is offered of the attempts since 1941 to achieve the advantages of sentential material by presenting strings of grammatically unrelated words. Such material retains the several advantages of single-word tests. At least two recent tests using a three-monosyllables-per-item format with closed-response sets are seen to make significant advances over earlier tests in maximizing advantages and minimizing disadvantages of material presented.