A Proposed Clinical Test of Speech Discrimination

Abstract

The Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) has been adapted to the needs of the clinical audiologist. Tape recordings of three speakers, one female and two males, were made, evaluated, and assembled in a format suitable for use as a clinical tool. Special attention was given to ensure an appropriate carrier phrase, consistent timing sequences, well-controlled recordings, simplified instructions, and test forms. The tests were administered to panels of listeners, and the results were assessed for possible effects of learning, speaker or listener differences, and comparability of test lists. The recordings are available, for all three speakers, with the noise adjusted to yield approximately the same percentage of correct responses for normal listeners, 96, 83, and 75% correct.