What does a speech audiometry test help to identify?

A speech audiometry test is specifically designed to assess an individual's ability to understand and repeat speech, particularly at different loudness levels. This test evaluates how well a person can not only hear speech but also comprehend it, which is essential for evaluating auditory processing and communication abilities.

The test typically involves presenting spoken words or sentences at varying volumes, allowing the audiologist to determine the softest level at which the individual can accurately repeat words (speech recognition threshold) and how well they can understand speech at conversational levels or above (word recognition scores). This information is crucial for diagnosing hearing difficulties and planning appropriate interventions, such as the need for hearing aids or speech therapy.

While other options touch on aspects of auditory function, they do not specifically address the unique purpose of speech audiometry. Detecting faint sounds pertains more to pure-tone audiometry, assessing the effectiveness of hearing aids relates to functional outcome measurements, and evaluating the impact of noise on understanding speech involves different testing procedures that focus on competitive or noisy environments.