hearing level for speech

4.37  hearing level for speech. For a specified speech signal, for a specified type of transducer, and for a specified manner of presentation, the speech level minus the appropriate speech recognition threshold signal. Unit, decibel (dB).

Annotation         Typically, a speech audiometer is calibrated so that an indicated output hearing level of 0 dB for a specified transducer is equal to the appropriate reference speech recognition threshold level. Thus, if a listener had a speech recognition threshold equal to an appropriate reference speech recognition threshold, the listener’s speech recognition threshold would be 0 dB. If a listener had a speech recognition hearing level threshold equal to 40 dB, the listener’s speech recognition threshold would be 40 dB higher than the appropriate reference speech threshold level.