How does the SRT (Speech Reception Threshold) function differ from the WRS function in terms of steepness?

The Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) function is indeed steeper than the Word Recognition Score (WRS) function. This difference in steepness is primarily due to the way these two tests assess hearing.

SRT measures the lowest level of speech that a listener can recognize 50% of the time, typically using spondees—two-syllable words with equal stress. This threshold test is sensitive to the overall audibility of speech signals, meaning that it can demonstrate a rapid change in speech recognition as sound levels increase. Thus, the function tends to show a steep slope; small increases in sound level can lead to significant improvements in speech perception.

WRS, on the other hand, evaluates the ability to recognize and correctly identify words at a comfortable listening level, usually above the SRT. WRS functions typically show a more gradual slope because, once a listener is above a certain threshold, incremental improvements in word recognition are less dramatic. Most listeners can achieve relatively high recognition scores even with only modest hearing levels.

The comparative steepness of the SRT function versus the WRS function represents the nuanced differences in how speech perception is affected by different levels of auditory stimulus. Thus, recognizing that the SRT is steeper than the WRS allows