Estimating speech threshold from the PI-PB function

S. Jerger and J. Jerger

Speech thresholds were determined from the performance intensity function for phonetically balanced (PB) words in 2,117 patients with varying types and degrees of hearing loss. Comparison of this threshold for PB words (PBT) with both pure-tone sensitivity (PTA) and the conventional threshold for spondee words (ST) shows that PBT not only provides a cross-check on pure-tone level, but also conveys additional information about audiometric contour.