A Word Recognition Score (WRS) measures how clearly someone hears speech. It assesses the ability to understand spoken words, providing insight into speech clarity. This score is a percentage that shows how many words a person can correctly identify. It helps audiologists understand a person’s overall speech perception.
What is Word Recognition Score?
The Word Recognition Score (WRS) is a measure in audiology that quantifies an individual’s ability to understand speech. It is sometimes called a speech discrimination score or word discrimination score. This test goes beyond simply measuring how well someone hears sounds, which is what pure tone audiometry determines. Instead, WRS specifically assesses how clearly and accurately a person perceives spoken words, even when sounds are audible.
The WRS helps determine if speech sounds are distorted or unclear for an individual. It provides valuable insight into the brain’s ability to process auditory information, which may not be fully captured by other hearing tests. A comprehensive hearing evaluation routinely includes this assessment.
How Word Recognition Score is Tested
Obtaining a Word Recognition Score involves a standardized procedure, typically conducted in a sound-treated booth to minimize external noise interference. The individual wears headphones, and an audiologist presents a list of phonetically balanced words. These word lists are designed so that speech sounds appear in proportions similar to their occurrence in spoken English.
The words are presented at a comfortable listening level for the patient, usually 30 to 40 decibels above their Speech Reception Threshold (SRT). The patient is instructed to repeat each word they hear. The audiologist records each correct response, and the final score is calculated as a percentage of words repeated accurately. This test is generally performed after initial assessments, such as pure tone audiometry, to ensure the presentation level is appropriate for the individual’s hearing sensitivity.
Understanding Your Word Recognition Results
Interpreting your Word Recognition Score provides insight into your speech understanding. A score of 90-100% is generally considered excellent, indicating normal or near-normal speech understanding. A score in the 80-88% range is often considered good, while 70-78% suggests fair speech understanding. Scores below 70% are typically classified as poor.
A low WRS, even if pure tone hearing thresholds appear relatively normal, can indicate issues beyond simple loudness perception. This might suggest problems with nerve function, auditory processing, or distortion in how the brain interprets speech sounds. A low WRS can affect daily communication and overall quality of life. These scores help audiologists select the most appropriate hearing assistance or intervention strategies, such as the fitting of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices, to improve speech understanding.