Speech Audiometry

SPEECH AUDIOMETRY

Assessing how well you hear and understand speech

Clear communication starts with a comprehensive speech hearing assessment. We evaluate how well you hear, recognise and understand spoken words in quiet and challenging listening environments.

A hearing clinician conducting a speech audiometry assessment

Clear communication starts with understanding speech

At Welfast Hearing Australia, Speech Audiometry evaluates how effectively your auditory system processes spoken words—not only whether you can detect sound. This advanced assessment is an essential part of a complete hearing evaluation.

It helps our clinicians diagnose communication difficulties, recommend appropriate hearing solutions and optimise hearing aid performance. It is especially valuable when conversations are difficult or speech becomes unclear in background noise.

At a glance

A hearing clinician explaining speech recognition results

What is Speech Audiometry?

Speech Audiometry is a specialised assessment that measures your ability to hear and understand spoken words. Unlike Pure Tone Audiometry, which evaluates sensitivity using individual tones, it focuses on recognising and repeating speech at different volume levels.

Why is Speech Audiometry important?

Many people can hear sounds but still struggle to understand conversations in restaurants, meetings, family gatherings or shopping centres. Speech testing identifies communication difficulties that may not be obvious during routine screening.

Understanding speech supports independence, relationships, workplace performance and overall quality of life.

Who should have a Speech Audiometry test?

Speech Audiometry is routinely included in comprehensive hearing assessment and is particularly useful if you experience:

What does it measure?

PTA measures hearing sensitivity from approximately 250 Hz to 8000 Hz—the range covering sounds most important for everyday communication.

What does Speech Audiometry measure?

Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)
This is the softest level at which you can correctly recognise and repeat simple two-syllable words approximately 50% of the time. It helps confirm hearing thresholds and overall hearing ability.

Word Recognition Score
Also called speech discrimination, this measures how accurately you understand speech at a comfortable listening level. Results are expressed as a percentage.

Benefits of Speech Audiometry

Speech testing supplies valuable information that pure-tone testing alone cannot provide. It connects clinical results with the communication challenges you experience in everyday life.

What happens after the assessment?

Your clinician will clearly explain the results and recommend care suited to your communication goals and hearing needs.

Why choose Welfast Hearing Australia?

Our hearing care is about more than detecting hearing loss—it is about helping you communicate with confidence. We combine modern diagnostic technology with friendly, individualised and evidence-based care.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Pure Tone Audiometry measures your ability to hear sounds, while Speech Audiometry measures how well you understand spoken words. Both provide different but equally important information.
No. Speech Audiometry is completely safe, comfortable and non-invasive.
Most assessments take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on their complexity.
No special preparation is needed. If you wear hearing aids, bring them unless your clinician advises otherwise.
It is an important part of determining whether hearing aids are likely to improve communication and which solution may be most suitable.

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