speechinnoise

Speech in noise (SIN) refers to the ability to understand spoken language when background noise or competing talkers reduce intelligibility. It is a common measure in audiology, language development, and cognitive science because real-world listening rarely occurs in quiet conditions. SIN performance reflects both peripheral hearing sensitivity and central processing, including attention and working memory.

SIN is typically assessed with standardized tests that present sentences or words against background noise at fixed or adaptive signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Common tests include the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), Quick Speech-in-Noise Test (QuickSIN), and the Words-in-Noise (WIN) test. Outcomes are often expressed as a speech reception threshold in noise (SRT in noise) or as a score indicating percentage correct at a given SNR. Test materials vary in language, length, and ecological validity.

Performance in SIN tasks is influenced by multiple factors. Hearing loss, especially in the high-frequency range, reduces speech audibility in noise. Age, cognitive abilities (e.g., working memory, attention), linguistic context, and familiarity with the language or dialect also affect SIN. The type of noise (stationary vs fluctuating, competing talkers) and the listening environment (reverberation, distance) further modulate performance. Hearing devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, along with signal processing strategies (directionality, noise reduction), can improve SIN.

Clinically, SIN measures help identify listening difficulties beyond quiet-ear tests, guide rehabilitation decisions, and assess benefit from amplification or cochlear implants. They also inform counseling about realistic expectations and can track changes over time or with intervention. Limitations include variability across tests, ecological validity, and differences in test materials and listening conditions.