A compensation method for word-familiarity difference with SNR control in intelligibility test

摘要

Isolated-monosyllable listening tests are widely used in Japan to assess personal hearing ability. However, word intelligibility tests could be more suitable for measuring hearing ability. We developed new word lists with controlled word familiarity and phonetic balance. Listening test results showed slight differences in intelligibility scores among word lists within the same word familiarity rank. We examined whether such variation can be compensated by changing the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of each word to equalize intelligibility scores of word lists in identical word familiarity ranks. Results of listening tests indicated that a 1.0 difference in word familiarity was approximately equivalent to a 2.0 dB difference in SNR. Based on the results, we developed and tested a method of compensating for the difference caused by word familiarity by controlling SNR. We confirmed that this compensation method was effective in equalizing the intelligibility score of each word list.