Speech In Noise Tests

A person with a hearing loss will often be less able to understand speech, especially in noisy conditions. This is especially true for people who have a Sensorineural loss – which is by far the most common type of hearing loss. As such, Speech-in-Noise tests can provide valuable information about a person’s hearing ability, and can be used to detect the presence of a Sensorineural hearing loss.

You may benefit from taking a Speech-in-Noise test if you generally experience difficulties when trying to understand what people are saying in noisy situation. It may be particularly helpful if any of the following applies to you:

If you often feel as though people are mumbling or talking very softly when speaking to you
If you often find yourself asking people to repeat themselves
If you feel “drained” after having long conversations, to the point where you try to avoid such situations
If you find it difficult to follow conversations when in crowded public places, such as supermarkets or busy restaurants
If you regularly find yourself having to turn up the volume on your television or radio
If you consciously bothered or irritated by background noises when you are with other people
If you often experience difficulties when having telephone conversations

Please note that, although this test can provide you with valuable information about your hearing, it is not a full hearing test and is not intended to be as sensitive as the diagnostic hearing tests available at your local hospital. Occasionally, factors such as background noise, and the type of equipment that you use, can have a small impact on the outcome of the test. These tests are not designed to detect Conductive hearing losses. If you are concerned about your hearing, please visit your GP who will be able to arrange a full hearing assessment.

This test will evaluate your ability to hear sounds against background noise, and will also provide you with some advice about what you should do next.

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