Hearing range test
The hearing range measurement or speech distance test is a simple method of obtaining information about the extent of a hearing loss . It measures the distance from which spoken language can just be re-spoken correctly.
Following a suggestion by Friedrich Bezold (1842–1908), the examination is carried out by auditioning two-digit numbers. The person examined has the task of repeating this. The test is carried out using "normal" colloquial language on the one hand and whispered language on the other. The whispered language should be carried out with "residual air", i. H. the air that is still available after normal exhalation. To test the ears separately, the ear that has not been tested must be prevented from listening in. When testing with whispered language, it is sufficient to hold your ear closed with a finger; when testing with colloquial language, a so-called Bárány noise drum is used.
A capital “V” (for vox magna ) is used as a symbol for the test result with colloquial language, a lowercase “v” (for vox parva ) is used for whispered language, the result is entered for the respective side as the test person is seen by the examiner , so for the right ear to the left of the "V" and vice versa.
The test result is very dependent on the changing speaker, the room acoustics and also the numbers spoken. The hearing range measurement is only to be regarded as a rough orientation measurement, but it is still very informative.
The severity of a hearing loss is only assessed according to the hearing range for colloquial speech. According to the degree of severity, the following breakdown is common (Mittermaier, 1952):
| Degree of hearing loss | Hearing range for colloquial speech |
|---|---|
| mild hearing loss | > 4 m (4–6 m) |
| moderate hearing loss | 1-4 m |
| severe hearing loss | 0.25-1 m |
| Deafness bordering on deafness | <0.25 m |
| deafness | no hearing |
In colloquial language, a person with normal hearing understands numerals even from a distance of more than 6 m, under optimal conditions even from a considerably greater distance. However, in the case of a person with whom one can converse easily from a distance of 6 m, the degree of a possibly existing hearing impairment is so low that the hearing ability can be equated with normal hearing.
In whispering, numerals can also be understood by normal hearing people from over 6 m away. Basically, however, the hearing range for whispered language is always smaller than that for colloquial language. Whispering is not a quiet colloquial language, it is voiceless; the vowels in particular are quieter. In order to understand whispered language, it is therefore necessary to hear consonants , which consistently have higher frequency spectra than vowels. If whispered language is understood disproportionately poorly, this indicates a hearing loss in the high frequency range (e.g. in the case of noise- induced hearing loss ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ R. Mittermaier: auditory examination with special consideration of reduced earning capacity . In: Arch. Ohr .-, Nas.- u. Kehlk.-Heilk. , 161, 1952, 94, 314
