What type of response is generally expected from threshold measures in speech testing?

Recognition of words is the correct response when it comes to threshold measures in speech testing. This type of testing evaluates an individual's ability to detect and identify speech sounds at varying intensities. The goal is to determine the lowest level at which a person can accurately recognize spoken words, which is crucial for assessing hearing capabilities, particularly in the context of understanding speech.

Threshold measures focus on quantifying auditory sensitivity by evaluating how soft speech can be heard and understood. These measures provide essential insights into hearing function that directly relates to the person's ability to communicate effectively. As a result, recognizing words serves as a standard benchmark for understanding a listener's hearing threshold, making it a key part of audiological assessments.

In contrast, other options like open-ended responses, categorization of sounds, and guessing the sounds do not align directly with the specific objectives of threshold measures in speech testing. Open-ended responses might apply to more conversational or open dialogue assessments, while categorizing sounds may be relevant in different auditory processing tasks. Guessing sounds does not provide reliable data about the listener's actual hearing capabilities, and is not a standardized approach in threshold testing.