Standard or regulation
Determining Threshold Level for Speech (ASHA Guidelines, 1988)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 1988
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- The guideline that defines the speech recognition threshold, recommends spondaic words and a descending procedure for measuring it, and explains its role as a check on the pure-tone audiogram. The Association's Legislative Council approved it in November 1987.
- How much weight it carries
- The official professional guideline of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, based on the research it cites. It is from 1988, and clinics may use modified procedures, so check the protocol a clinic actually uses.
Facts taken from this source
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association defines the speech recognition threshold as the minimum hearing level for speech at which a person can recognize 50% of the speech material.
“The speech recognition threshold is the minimum hearing level for speech (see ANSI S3.6-1969 standard or subsequent superseding standards) at which an individual can recognize 50% of the speech material” (Speech Threshold Definitions, Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT))
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says that when the speech recognition threshold and the pure tone average disagree, the results are inconsistent, which can be an early sign of pseudohypacusis, or exaggerated hearing loss.
“Disagreement between the speech recognition threshold and pure tone average is an indication of inconsistency in test results. This inconsistency may provide an early indication of pseudohypacusis” (Background)
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says that for most clinical cases the speech recognition threshold agrees well with the three-frequency pure tone average, but with a sloping loss it may agree better with the two-frequency average.
“in cases with a sloping loss agreement may be better between the speech recognition threshold and the two-frequency pure tone average” (Background)
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says the speech threshold procedure may need modifying for young children and for mentally disabled, uncooperative or neurologically disabled people, and that modifications must be recorded.
“certain individuals such as young children and mentally disabled, uncooperative, or neurologically disabled individuals may require modification of the procedure” (Background)
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends spondaic words as the usual test material for the speech recognition threshold, and defines them as two-syllable words with equal stress on both syllables.
“Spondaic words are two-syllable words with equal stress on both syllables” (Speech Threshold Definitions, Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT))
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says the primary clinical purpose of a speech threshold is to serve as a validity check for the pure tone audiogram.
“Clinically, the primary purpose of a speech threshold is to serve as a validity check for the pure tone audiogram” (Background)